PhD defence Nadja Brait
When: | Tu 08-07-2025 at 12:45 |
Where: | Academy Building & online |

Endogenous viral elements and their influence on the complexity of genomic and transcriptomic data analysis
Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are viral sequences integrated into a host's genome and transmitted to subsequent generations, which can provide key insights into virus-host dynamics. With advances in sequencing technologies and metagenomics, the growing availability of genome assemblies has led to an increase in EVE discoveries and related publications. However, critical questions regarding their accurate analysis and potential influence on other research outcomes have been largely overlooked. This thesis addresses these gaps by exploring limitations in data availability and accessibility, and by investigating biases in both EVE detection and their impact on other analyses. It proposes improvements in detecting capabilities and (meta)data linkage to ensure more accurate and reproducible analyses. By examining technical processes and biases, this thesis aims to provide a comprehensive framework for reliable EVE research, reducing propagation errors and enhancing downstream data interpretation.