Nels Elde, Ph.D.

The Elde lab investigates host-pathogen interfaces and the evolutionary impact of these interactions on genomic and cellular complexity. Protein surfaces at these interfaces often evolve in a manner resembling molecular arms races, providing a conspicuous means to investigate mechanisms underlying the process of evolution. 

A major focus of our efforts is using integrated phylogenetic and experimental approaches to identify new sources of genetic resistance to infectious diseases. We also use model organisms as platforms for virus discovery and to understand the rules by which hosts adapt to respond to infections. Our approaches can provide fundamental advances for understanding how infectious microbes shape host evolution and reveal genetic mechanisms underlying virus adaptation to hosts.

Rheinemann L*, Downhour DM*, Davenport KA*, McKeown, AN, Sundquist WI, Elde NC. (2022) Recurrent evolution of an inhibitor of ESCRT-dependent virus budding and LINE-1 retrotransposition in primates. Current Biology, In press. *Equal contribution. 

Rheinemann L*, Downhour DM*, Bredbenner K*, Mercenne G, Davenport KA, Schmitt PT, Schmitt AP, Simon SM, Sundquist WI, Elde NC. (2021) RetroCHMP3 blocks budding of enveloped viruses without blocking cytokinesis. Cell, 184(21): 5419-31.

Carey CM, Apple SE, Hilbert ZA, Kay MS, Elde NC. (2021) Diarrheal pathogens trigger rapid evolution of the guanylate cyclase-C signaling axis in bats. Cell Host & Microbe, 29(9): 1342-1350.e5.

Balla KM, Rice MC, Gagnon JA, Elde NC. (2020) Linking virus discovery to immune responses by visualizing zebrafish infections. Current Biology, 30(11): 2092-2103.

Sasani TA*, Cone KR*, Quinlan AR**, Elde NC**. (2018) Long read sequencing reveals poxvirus evolution through rapid homogenization of gene arrays. eLife, 7: e35453, doi: 10.7554/eLife.35453 Equal contribution of first authors and *senior authors.