Ansari Group
Our group studies host–pathogen interactions using genetic data, with a particular focus on developing statistical and computational methods to integrate heterogeneous data sources in infectious diseases. Traditional genetic studies have typically examined host and pathogen genetic variation in isolation, implicitly assuming independence between the two. While this assumption is reasonable in some settings, accumulating evidence indicates that genetic interactions between hosts and viruses play a central role in viral pathogenesis and heterogeneity in disease outcomes.
We address this challenge by generating and analysing paired host–virus genomic data from large, well-characterised cohorts infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and dengue virus. Our work aims to identify (i) host genetic variants associated with viral sequence variation, (ii) viral sites under strong host-driven selective pressure, (iii) host and viral genetic factors that independently influence disease phenotypes, and (iv) host–virus genetic interactions that jointly shape clinical outcomes. Through these analyses, we seek to develop a more integrated and mechanistic understanding of viral disease biology.
Our research is inherently interdisciplinary, combining methodology development with biological application. The group’s expertise spans statistical genetics, Bayesian statistics, machine learning, population genetics, bioinformatics, immunology, pathogen evolution, microbiology, and host–pathogen interactions.
Our team
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Ahoud Alohali
DPhil student
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Dalia Obeid
DPhil student
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Fuquing (Mike) Xu
Research Assistant
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Haiting Chai
Postdoctoral Scientist
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Kai Kean
DPhil student
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Kaitlin Reid
DPhil student
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Meghna Tripathi
DPhil student
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Qijing Shen
DPhil student
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Sofya Lebedeva
DPhil student
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Zhiqing Wang
DPhil student
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Zhipeng Zhang
DPhil student
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Azim Ansari
Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Fellow
