Viruses (including Giant Viruses)

Eric Weaver is director of the Nebraska Center for Virology and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences. He has published breakthrough research developing a new strategy to vaccinate against swine influenza and other variants of the Influenza A virus. He also has investigated vaccines for the zika virus. Weaver incorporates use of bioinformatics, phylogenetics, immunology and molecular biology to study the basic mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and to create improved vaccines against microbial diseases. He received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Texas State University, Master of Science in Virology/Immunology from Texas State University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics from Texas A&M University. (Updated May 2025.)

Peter Angeletti’s research is focused on DNA replication and maintenance of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) that infect the stratified epithelium of the genital tract. Currently 20 million Americans are infected with genital HPVs with 5.5 million new infections each year. Some high-risk HPVs are associated with an increased likelihood of cancer. (Updated February 2025)

James Van Etten, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, is a plant pathologist with expertise in giant viruses. He studies viruses that infect algae, particularly Chlorella and similar green algae. His laboratory discovered chloroviruses, which are found in fresh water all around the world and exhibit many unexpected properties. (Updated May 2025)