I. Manfredonia, MSc

Research interests

PhD project:  RNA secondary structures in the evolution of Flaviviruses

Thanks to their error-prone RNA polymerases, Flaviviruses exist in their hosts as genetically diversified populations of related genomes. In arthropod-borne flaviviruses (ssRNA+ viruses) which normally switch between arthropod and human hosts, the viral population is cyclically exposed to different and strong evolutionary forces. Among all the factors contributing to viral evolution, I’m interested in RNA secondary structures.