University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · BiologyTick Virus Dynamics Lab
Matthew T Aliota · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Research Focus
Dr. Matthew T Aliota's lab at the University of Minnesota focuses on the Powassan virus, a tick-borne pathogen that poses a growing public health threat. The research aims to investigate how the genetics of both the Powassan virus and its tick vector contribute to disease transmission and severity across different regions in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. This work is vital for understanding how such viruses may evolve and spread, ultimately aiding in disease prediction and prevention efforts.
Powassan virustick-borne diseasesIxodes scapularisviral evolutionpublic healthdisease transmissionhost competencegenetic structureencephalitis
Research Aims
3AIM 01Assess the distribution and genetic structure of Powassan virus and Ixodes scapularis in different regions of the U.S.
AIM 02Evaluate the interaction between tick populations and viral genotypes regarding host competence for Powassan virus.
AIM 03Determine the impact of Powassan virus genetic variability on host competence and disease outcomes.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRgenomic sequencingfield samplingviral culturetick population analysisphylogenetic analysismouse modelsserological testingdata collection and analysis
Output against the department
Publications116bottom 41% of dept.610th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.9kbottom 37% of dept.648th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.