My work in the Pekosz Lab leverages molecular virology to study Influenza B fitness and host response at the nasal epithelium. I work within the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response, with the Mostafa Lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as well as other collaborators to further the understanding of Influenza B virus Evolution and host immune responses. Additionally, I currently maintain 24 Nextstrain builds for seasonal genomic surveillance of H1N1, H3N2 and B/Victoria Viruses originiating within the Johns Hopkins Hospital Network.

Genomic surveillance of Influenza B Viruses

down sampling methods can be found here

Phenotypic outcomes in IBV HA and NS1 evolution

Publications

orcid: 0000-0001-8824-8809

Emergence of an Antigenically Drifted and Reassorted Influenza B Virus at the end of the 2024-25 Influenza Season

Preprint Akin et al., 2025

Jul 24, 2025

Low levels of H5N1 HA and NA antibodies in the human population are boosted by seasonal A/H1N1 infection but not by A/H3N2 infection or influenza vaccination

Preprint Werner et al., 2025

Jul 17, 2025

SARS-CoV-2 Variants from Long-Term, Persistently Infected Immunocompromised Patients Have Altered Syncytia Formation, Temperature-Dependent Replication, and Serum Neutralizing Antibody Escape

Wouters et al. Viruses 2024, 16(9), 1436

May 19, 2024

The Influenza B Virus Victoria and Yamagata Lineages Display Distinct Cell Tropism and Infection-Induced Host Gene Expression in Human Nasal Epithelial Cell Cultures

Wilson & Akin et al. 2023. Viruses

Sep 20, 2023

Adverse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2–infected pregnant mice are gestational age–dependent and resolve with antiviral treatment

Creisher et al. 2023. JCI

Aug 15, 2023

Late-presenting Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in a Non-Endemic Setting During COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Robben et al. 2021. Millitary Medicine

Sep 24, 2021