Duggal lab

Emergence of pathogenic zoonotic viruses

The Duggal lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech studies emerging viruses, with a focus on how viral adaptation during emergence affects transmission and pathogenesis. Specifically, the lab studies Zika virus sexual transmission and in utero transmission, as well as West Nile virus and Usutu virus mosquito-borne transmission in birds. We recently started studying the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The objective of our studies is to identify host and viral factors that contribute to transmission and pathogenesis, with the overall goal of preventing emergence and disease.