Investigators and Program Directors
Laura D. Kramer
Research Scientist, Wadsworth Center, Zoonotic Disease and Clinical Virology
Associate Professor, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Ph.D., Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell Medical School
Postdoctoral training, University of California, Berkeley
E-mail:kramer@wadsworth.org
Research Interests
The research program of the Arbovirus Laboratories focuses on basic and applied field and laboratory studies examining the interaction of mosquito and tick-borne arboviruses, arthropod vectors, and vertebrate hosts, and how this interaction impacts the transmission cycle of the pathogen. The research program includes studies with alpha- and flavi- viruses, examining intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (temperature, dose, time after infection) factors affecting vectorial capacity. Our studies are currently focusing on the flavivirus, West Nile, which, like all flaviviruses, is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Research also addresses molecular epidemiologic studies of West Nile virus; the development of new assays for arboviruses in mosquito pools and vertebrate tissues; and mosquito genetics. Research is underway to elucidate mechanisms by which arboviruses overwinter in temperate environments, particularly WNV in northeastern USA. Studies are underway to examine changes in replicative competitiveness following passage in vitro in mosquito and avian cells and in vivo in arthropod and avian hosts.
Contact Information
E-mail:kramer@wadsworth.org.