Tiago Gräf
@tiagograf.bsky.social
Virologist at Fiocruz Brazil | Phylogenetics, Molecular Evolution & Genomic Epidemiology
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I will keep it short and sweet. Great news out of Brazil today 👇.
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary teams that made it a reality!
@mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social #Burantan
I will keep it short and sweet. Great news out of Brazil today 👇.
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary teams that made it a reality!
@mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social #Burantan
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I will keep it short and sweet. Great news out of Brazil today 👇.
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary teams that made it a reality!
@mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social #Burantan
I will keep it short and sweet. Great news out of Brazil today 👇.
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary teams that made it a reality!
@mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social #Burantan
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
New paper on climate variation and the importance of considering serotype competition in dengue dynamics, with @emiliefinch.bsky.social @drrachellowe.bsky.social and others www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Climate variation and serotype competition drive dengue outbreak dynamics in Singapore - Nature Communications
Dengue early warning systems integrating climate information are an important tool for epidemic preparedness and response. Here, the authors develop a prediction model that incorporates clim...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
New paper on climate variation and the importance of considering serotype competition in dengue dynamics, with @emiliefinch.bsky.social @drrachellowe.bsky.social and others www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Since the topic of the moment is the new betacoronavirus with FCS found in Brazil, I would like to draw attention to this preprint. It describes two new betacoronaviruses found in the same genus of bats as Takada et al, and propose a new subgenus, the ambecoviruses.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Ambecovirus, a novel Betacoronavirus subgenus circulating in neotropical bats sheds new light on bat-borne coronaviruses evolution
Understanding the viral diversity harboured by wildlife is essential for effective prediction and prevention of future zoonotic outbreaks. Bats, in particular, are recognized as natural reservoirs for...
www.biorxiv.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Since the topic of the moment is the new betacoronavirus with FCS found in Brazil, I would like to draw attention to this preprint. It describes two new betacoronaviruses found in the same genus of bats as Takada et al, and propose a new subgenus, the ambecoviruses.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
“Furin cleavage site”, that is. Just casually, and naturally, sitting there in one of the most evolutionarily active parts of the genome.
Mystery solved.
Mystery solved.
CIDRAP: New coronavirus subspecies with SARS-CoV-2–like mutation discovered in Brazilian bat
by Mary Van Beusekom
@cidrap.bsky.social
bit.ly/4hHRfam
by Mary Van Beusekom
@cidrap.bsky.social
bit.ly/4hHRfam
November 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
“Furin cleavage site”, that is. Just casually, and naturally, sitting there in one of the most evolutionarily active parts of the genome.
Mystery solved.
Mystery solved.
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
We’ve identified a highly divergent betacoronavirus from South American bat that encodes a functional furin cleavage site.
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A divergent betacoronavirus with a functional furin cleavage site in South American bats
Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of RNA viruses. Members of the genus Betacoronavirus, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome...
www.biorxiv.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:32 PM
We’ve identified a highly divergent betacoronavirus from South American bat that encodes a functional furin cleavage site.
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Viro3D paper is out! We predicted 85,000 protein structures from human & animal viruses. 1/5 🧵
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
Viro3D: a comprehensive database of virus protein structure predictions | Molecular Systems Biology
imageimageViro3D provides proteome-level, high confidence AI-protein structure predictions for
>4,400 viruses, allowing mapping of form and function across the human and animal
virosphere. Viro3D i...
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Viro3D paper is out! We predicted 85,000 protein structures from human & animal viruses. 1/5 🧵
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
📢New preprint on the impact of dengue virus genetic diversity on inhibition by Wolbachia 🦟🦠🧬
Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨
Key findings in thread below 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨
Key findings in thread below 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Heterogeneity in inhibition of genetically diverse dengue virus strains by Wolbachia
The release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transinfected with the virus-inhibiting Wolbachia bacterium has the potential to reduce the burden caused by dengue virus (DENV). However, the robustness of thi...
www.biorxiv.org
September 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
📢New preprint on the impact of dengue virus genetic diversity on inhibition by Wolbachia 🦟🦠🧬
Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨
Key findings in thread below 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨
Key findings in thread below 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
September 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Sequence data from the new Ebola outbreak in DRC suggests it is indeed a new spillover.
And just incredible to see the virus sequenced and the data publicly shared less than 24 hours after confirmation of the outbreak.
#IDsky 🧪
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
And just incredible to see the virus sequenced and the data publicly shared less than 24 hours after confirmation of the outbreak.
#IDsky 🧪
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
The 16th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A new spillover event from an unknown reservoir host
Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently facing concurrent outbreaks including mpox, cholera and malaria (1-4). The Ministry of Public Health, DRC has declared the 16th Ebola...
virological.org
September 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Sequence data from the new Ebola outbreak in DRC suggests it is indeed a new spillover.
And just incredible to see the virus sequenced and the data publicly shared less than 24 hours after confirmation of the outbreak.
#IDsky 🧪
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
And just incredible to see the virus sequenced and the data publicly shared less than 24 hours after confirmation of the outbreak.
#IDsky 🧪
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
I’m thrilled to share my first review about microbial ecology + mosquito-borne disease control! Bacteria block pathogen development in the mosquito gut, but which bacteria will produce long-lasting results in the field? Let’s think about colonization and persistence in the mosquito gut! (1/4)
Drs @holly-nichols.bsky.social & Kerri Coon review #microbial #ecology for #mosquito-borne disease control. #Paratransgenesis #Colonization #Resistance #Transmission #Microbiota #Transplantation @uwbact.bsky.social @uwmadisonmdtp.bsky.social @uwmadison.bsky.social
www.cell.com/trends/paras...
www.cell.com/trends/paras...
Leveraging microbial ecology for mosquito-borne disease control
Mosquitoes transmit pathogens causing 700 000 deaths annually. Microbe-based vector
control, which reduces vector populations or blocks pathogen development within vectors,
offers an innovative way to...
www.cell.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I’m thrilled to share my first review about microbial ecology + mosquito-borne disease control! Bacteria block pathogen development in the mosquito gut, but which bacteria will produce long-lasting results in the field? Let’s think about colonization and persistence in the mosquito gut! (1/4)
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Handy to keep up with the ICTV's changes to virus taxonomy and species names:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
vs:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
or
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
vs
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
vs:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
or
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
vs
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
June 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Handy to keep up with the ICTV's changes to virus taxonomy and species names:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
vs:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
or
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
vs
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
vs:
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/694009...
or
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
vs
taxonomy.onecodex.com/taxon/11676/...
Provavelmente os casos brasileiros de HPAI em 2025 devem ser devido a esta nova linhagem recombinante. Muito importante sequenciar e analisar o genoma do vírus circulando atualmente no país.
Novel reassortant H5N1 w gene segments from Eurasian H5N1 + LPAI South + North American lineages from poultry (chickens/ducks) in Argentina in Feb 2025.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
May 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Provavelmente os casos brasileiros de HPAI em 2025 devem ser devido a esta nova linhagem recombinante. Muito importante sequenciar e analisar o genoma do vírus circulando atualmente no país.
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
A not very happy Friday. CERI had 6 NIH grants canceled, which will impact operations, surveillance and response to epidemics. We are working to try to minimize disturbance but not easy with 6 grants terminated at the same moment. A crisis is unfolding in SA www.news24.com/southafrica/...
SA universities face funding crisis as US federal agencies freeze research grants | News24
An investigation into the impact of the US aid freeze on research funding to South African universities has found that 44 programmes worth R2.5 billion were affected.
www.news24.com
May 23, 2025 at 5:29 AM
A not very happy Friday. CERI had 6 NIH grants canceled, which will impact operations, surveillance and response to epidemics. We are working to try to minimize disturbance but not easy with 6 grants terminated at the same moment. A crisis is unfolding in SA www.news24.com/southafrica/...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Frustrated that MCMCtree does not have complex substitution models? The IQ-tree team has now developed IQ2MC, an interface for seamless integration of IQ-tree's substitution models with MCMCtree's fast Bayesian pipeline for clock dating. Read the preprint here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
IQ2MC: A New Framework to Infer Phylogenetic Time Trees Using IQ-TREE 3 and MCMCTree with Mixture Models
ecoevorxiv.org
May 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Frustrated that MCMCtree does not have complex substitution models? The IQ-tree team has now developed IQ2MC, an interface for seamless integration of IQ-tree's substitution models with MCMCtree's fast Bayesian pipeline for clock dating. Read the preprint here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
🦟🦠 NEW! We looked at every experiment going back to the 1960s, and found that mosquitoes are almost certainly not primary or secondary vectors of Oropouche virus - a common claim in both the scientific literature and public health communication. #EpiSky #IDSky 😷🧪
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
Vector competence for Oropouche virus: A systematic review of pre-2024 experiments
Oropouche virus has recently become an urgent threat to public health in Central and South America. OROV is mainly transmitted by biting midges; however, some public health agencies and scientific sou...
journals.plos.org
April 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
🦟🦠 NEW! We looked at every experiment going back to the 1960s, and found that mosquitoes are almost certainly not primary or secondary vectors of Oropouche virus - a common claim in both the scientific literature and public health communication. #EpiSky #IDSky 😷🧪
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
We celebrated the 100th anniversary of HR Carter's seminal lecture on YF's potential threat to Asia-Pacific area with a perspective to draw attention to the potential reasons why YF epidemics have not occurred in urban centers in the region. @sbvirologia.bsky.social @mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social
April 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
We celebrated the 100th anniversary of HR Carter's seminal lecture on YF's potential threat to Asia-Pacific area with a perspective to draw attention to the potential reasons why YF epidemics have not occurred in urban centers in the region. @sbvirologia.bsky.social @mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
“Funding by the CDC for two monthly peer-reviewed journals, Emerging Infectious Diseases and Preventing Chronic Disease, will be cut.”
EID has published novel, important work that brings #IDSky issues to light. Its loss will hurt.
EID has published novel, important work that brings #IDSky issues to light. Its loss will hurt.
This is a very helpful breakdown of the devastating outline of HHS cuts and reorganization. www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/h...
Leaked HHS budget signals $40B in cuts, assumes ACA subsidies expire
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reorganization plans appear to have been revealed through a leaked Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document. | The leaked preliminary budget documen...
www.fiercehealthcare.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“Funding by the CDC for two monthly peer-reviewed journals, Emerging Infectious Diseases and Preventing Chronic Disease, will be cut.”
EID has published novel, important work that brings #IDSky issues to light. Its loss will hurt.
EID has published novel, important work that brings #IDSky issues to light. Its loss will hurt.
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Our latest preprint demonstrates that two strains of DENV4 have distinct impacts on Aedes aegypti vector competence and life-history traits.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A Laboratory-Adapted and a Clinical Isolate of Dengue Virus Serotype 4 Differently Impact Aedes aegypti Life-History Traits Relevant to Vectorial Capacity
Dengue virus cases are on the rise globally, and strategies to reduce new infections by controlling its primary vector, the mosquito Aedes aegypti , represent a promising biotechnological approach. Ho...
www.biorxiv.org
January 14, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Our latest preprint demonstrates that two strains of DENV4 have distinct impacts on Aedes aegypti vector competence and life-history traits.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
On the verge: outbreak risk after two years of record-breaking dengue epidemics in Brazil - The Lancet Regional Health – Americas www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
On the verge: outbreak risk after two years of record-breaking dengue epidemics in Brazil
Over the last seasons of dengue, the disease has reached record-breaking numbers of
confirmed cases both globally and in the Americas.1 That is speculated to be a consequence
of two-fold climate drive...
www.thelancet.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
On the verge: outbreak risk after two years of record-breaking dengue epidemics in Brazil - The Lancet Regional Health – Americas www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
Hantavirus:
Global emerging disease with 2 major syndromes
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) – Americas:
130 cases/year, 30-60% mortality, depending on type
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) – Asia/Europe:
100K cases/year, 5-10% fatality rate
Spread by rodents primarily 🧵
Global emerging disease with 2 major syndromes
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) – Americas:
130 cases/year, 30-60% mortality, depending on type
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) – Asia/Europe:
100K cases/year, 5-10% fatality rate
Spread by rodents primarily 🧵
March 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Hantavirus:
Global emerging disease with 2 major syndromes
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) – Americas:
130 cases/year, 30-60% mortality, depending on type
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) – Asia/Europe:
100K cases/year, 5-10% fatality rate
Spread by rodents primarily 🧵
Global emerging disease with 2 major syndromes
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) – Americas:
130 cases/year, 30-60% mortality, depending on type
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) – Asia/Europe:
100K cases/year, 5-10% fatality rate
Spread by rodents primarily 🧵
This is my first post here and I would like to share this important work that I collaborated on.
We analyzed some of the factors impacting the spread of dengue in the Brazilian southern most state, where outbreaks are getting larger each year.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
We analyzed some of the factors impacting the spread of dengue in the Brazilian southern most state, where outbreaks are getting larger each year.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Increasing dengue outbreaks in temperate Brazil is linked to Aedes aegypti invasion and infestation level driving widespread virus transmission
Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is the most important mosquito-borne disease impacting human health globally, it is particularly prevalent in tropical regions where Aedes vectors thri...
www.medrxiv.org
February 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
This is my first post here and I would like to share this important work that I collaborated on.
We analyzed some of the factors impacting the spread of dengue in the Brazilian southern most state, where outbreaks are getting larger each year.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
We analyzed some of the factors impacting the spread of dengue in the Brazilian southern most state, where outbreaks are getting larger each year.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
PLOS has issued a statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity.
We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry.
plos.io/3D4O8cH
We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry.
plos.io/3D4O8cH
PLOS statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity - The Official PLOS Blog
Since its founding over twenty five years ago PLOS has been dedicated to advancing open science, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to…
plos.io
February 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
PLOS has issued a statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity.
We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry.
plos.io/3D4O8cH
We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry.
plos.io/3D4O8cH
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
I have insomnia a lot lately so may as well share what’s literally keeping me up at night.
It’s a long list but tonight it’s flu. Yes, H5N1, but also seasonal flu. Firing federal scientists brings a flu-filled future.
Have you ever wondered how flu vaccine strains are chosen?
It’s a long list but tonight it’s flu. Yes, H5N1, but also seasonal flu. Firing federal scientists brings a flu-filled future.
Have you ever wondered how flu vaccine strains are chosen?
February 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I have insomnia a lot lately so may as well share what’s literally keeping me up at night.
It’s a long list but tonight it’s flu. Yes, H5N1, but also seasonal flu. Firing federal scientists brings a flu-filled future.
Have you ever wondered how flu vaccine strains are chosen?
It’s a long list but tonight it’s flu. Yes, H5N1, but also seasonal flu. Firing federal scientists brings a flu-filled future.
Have you ever wondered how flu vaccine strains are chosen?
Reposted by Tiago Gräf
The entire archive of CDC datasets can be found here.
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
February 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The entire archive of CDC datasets can be found here.
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...