All Stories

  1. Uncovering the tangled evolutionary history of adeno-associated viruses

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  2. Expression and Localization of a New Parvovirus-Derived Protein in the Guinea Pig

    Article • Viruses, June 2025, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  3. No evidence that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern derive from homologous fragments in gut microbiota

    Article • Journal of Virology, December 2024, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  4. A new lineage nomenclature to aid genomic surveillance of dengue virus

    Article • PLoS Biology, September 2024, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  5. A novel approach to exploring the dark genome and its application to mapping of the vertebrate virus fossil record

    Article • Genome Biology, May 2024, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  6. A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) from the UK

    Article • Journal of General Virology, December 2023, Society for General Microbiology

    Dr Robert Gifford

  7. Development of evolutionarily conserved viral integration sites as safe harbors for human gene therapy

    Article • September 2023, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

    Dr Robert Gifford

  8. Structures of the Hepaci-, Pegi-, and Pestiviruses envelope proteins suggest a novel membrane fusion mechanism

    Article • PLoS Biology, July 2023, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  9. Unraveling the origins of human adeno-associated virus 5

    Article • Cell and Gene Therapy Insights, July 2023, BioInsights Publishing, Ltd.

    Dr Robert Gifford

  10. Antiviral Activity of an Endogenous Parvoviral Element

    Article • Viruses, June 2023, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  11. Co-option of endogenous retroviruses through genetic escape from TRIM28 repression

    Article • Cell Reports, June 2023, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  12. Emergence and pandemic spread of small ruminant lentiviruses

    Article • Virus Evolution, January 2023, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  13. An endogenous lentivirus in the germline of a rodent

    Article • Retrovirology, December 2022, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  14. Comparative analysis reveals the long-term coevolutionary history of parvoviruses and vertebrates

    Article • PLoS Biology, November 2022, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  15. A satellite DNA array barcodes chromosome 7 and regulates totipotency via ZFP819

    Article • Science Advances, October 2022, American Association for the Advancement of Science

    Dr Robert Gifford

  16. Emergence of Compensatory Mutations Reveals the Importance of Electrostatic Interactions between HIV-1 Integrase and Genomic RNA

    Article • mBio, October 2022, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  17. Comparative analysis of genome-encoded viral sequences reveals the evolutionary history of flavivirids (family Flaviviridae )

    Article • Virus Evolution, July 2022, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  18. A new tool to improve surveillance of rabies

    Article • PLoS Pathogens, May 2022, PLOS

    Kathryn Campbell, Dr Robert Gifford

  19. Amilorides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by targeting RNA structures

    Article • Science Advances, November 2021, American Association for the Advancement of Science

    Dr Robert Gifford

  20. Comparative analysis of genome-encoded viral sequences reveals the evolutionary history of flavivirids (family Flaviviridae)

    Article • September 2021, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

    Dr Robert Gifford

  21. No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription and integration as the origin of chimeric transcripts in patient tissues

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Stuart C. Ray, Dr Robert Gifford

  22. Mapping the evolution of bornaviruses across geological timescales

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  23. Ancient evolution of hepadnaviral paleoviruses and their impact on host genomes

    Article • Virus Evolution, January 2021, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  24. SARS-CoV-2 ORF3b Is a Potent Interferon Antagonist Whose Activity Is Increased by a Naturally Occurring Elongation Variant

    Article • Cell Reports, September 2020, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  25. CoV-GLUE: A Web Application for Tracking SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Variation

    Article • June 2020, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  26. Evolution of dependoparvoviruses across geological timescales—implications for design of AAV-based gene therapy vectors

    Article • Virus Evolution, May 2020, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  27. Rapid in-country sequencing of whole virus genomes to inform rabies elimination programmes

    Article • Wellcome Open Research, May 2020, Faculty of 1000, Ltd.

    Dr Robert Gifford

  28. Retroviruses drive the rapid evolution of mammalian APOBEC3 genes

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  29. Deltaretroviruses have circulated since at least the Paleogene and infected a broad range of mammalian species

    Article • Retrovirology, November 2019, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  30. Upstream translation initiation expands the coding capacity of segmented negative-strand RNA viruses

    Article • October 2019, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

    Dr Robert Gifford

  31. Molecular Properties and Evolutionary Origins of a Parvovirus-Derived Myosin Fusion Gene in Guinea Pigs

    Article • Journal of Virology, September 2019, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  32. An Ancient Lineage of Highly Divergent Parvoviruses Infects both Vertebrate and Invertebrate Hosts

    Article • Viruses, June 2019, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  33. Derivation of simian tropic HIV-1 infectious clone reveals virus adaptation to a new host

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  34. Interpreting Viral Deep Sequencing Data with GLUE

    Article • Viruses, April 2019, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  35. Examination and Reconstruction of Three Ancient Endogenous Parvovirus Capsid Protein Gene Remnants Found in Rodent Genomes

    Article • Journal of Virology, March 2019, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  36. Origin and recent expansion of an endogenous gammaretroviral lineage in domestic and wild canids

    Article • Retrovirology, March 2019, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  37. The evolution, distribution and diversity of endogenous circoviral elements in vertebrate genomes

    Article • Virus Research, March 2019, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  38. GLUE: a flexible software system for virus sequence data

    Article • BMC Bioinformatics, December 2018, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  39. Distribution, Diversity, and Evolution of Endogenous Retroviruses in Perissodactyl Genomes

    Article • Journal of Virology, September 2018, ASM Journals

    Dr Pablo R Murcia, Dr Robert Gifford

  40. Nomenclature for endogenous retrovirus (ERV) loci

    Article • Retrovirology, August 2018, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  41. Endogenous amdoparvovirus-related elements reveal insights into the biology and evolution of vertebrate parvoviruses

    Article • Virus Evolution, July 2018, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  42. Predicting the Effectiveness of Hepatitis C Virus Neutralizing Antibodies by Bioinformatic Analysis of Conserved Epitope Residues Using Public Sequence Data

    Article • Frontiers in Immunology, June 2018, Frontiers

    Dr Robert Gifford

  43. Cycloviruses Reconsidered: Fossil Evidence Points to Insect Origins

    Article • Journal of Virology, June 2018, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  44. Reconstruction of a replication-competent ancestral murine endogenous retrovirus-L

    Article • Retrovirology, May 2018, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  45. Remnants of an Ancient Deltaretrovirus in the Genomes of Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophidae)

    Article • Viruses, April 2018, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  46. Novel Parvoviruses from Wild and Domestic Animals in Brazil Provide New Insights into Parvovirus Distribution and Diversity

    Article • Viruses, March 2018, MDPI AG

    Dr Robert Gifford

  47. Fundamental properties of the mammalian innate immune system revealed by multispecies comparison of type I interferon responses

    Article • PLoS Biology, December 2017, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  48. Hepatitis C and the absence of genomic data in low-income countries: a barrier on the road to elimination?

    Article • The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, October 2017, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  49. Co-option of an endogenous retrovirus envelope for host defense in hominid ancestors

    Article • eLife, April 2017, eLife

    Dr Robert Gifford

  50. Discovery of an endogenous Deltaretrovirus in the genome of long-fingered bats (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae)

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 2017, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  51. Chapparvoviruses occur in at least three vertebrate classes and have a broad biogeographic distribution

    Article • Journal of General Virology, February 2017, Society for General Microbiology

    Dr Robert Gifford

  52. An Intact Retroviral Gene Conserved in Spiny-Rayed Fishes for over 100 My

    Article • Molecular Biology and Evolution, December 2016, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  53. Late Ebola virus relapse causing meningoencephalitis: a case report

    Article • The Lancet, July 2016, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  54. Identification and spontaneous immune targeting of an endogenous retrovirus K envelope protein in the Indian rhesus macaque model of human disease

    Article • Retrovirology, January 2016, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  55. Filovirus receptor NPC1 contributes to species-specific patterns of ebolavirus susceptibility in bats

    Article • eLife, December 2015, eLife

    Dr Jens H. Kuhn, Dr Robert Gifford

  56. Parvovirus-Derived Endogenous Viral Elements in Two South American Rodent Genomes

    Article • Journal of Virology, July 2014, ASM Journals

    Dr Gloria Loretto Arriagada, Dr Robert Gifford

  57. Larger Mammalian Body Size Leads to Lower Retroviral Activity

    Article • PLoS Pathogens, July 2014, PLOS

    Dr Aris Katzourakis, Dr Robert Gifford

  58. A Novel Recombinant Retrovirus in the Genomes of Modern Birds Combines Features of Avian and Mammalian Retroviruses

    Article • Journal of Virology, December 2013, ASM Journals

    Professor John M Coffin, Dr Robert Gifford

  59. The Extraordinary Evolutionary History of the Reticuloendotheliosis Viruses

    Article • PLoS Biology, August 2013, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  60. Extreme Genetic Fragility of the HIV-1 Capsid

    Article • PLoS Pathogens, June 2013, PLOS

    Professor David Bhella, Dr Robert Gifford

  61. Canine Retroviruses

    Article • The Veterinary Journal, April 2013, Elsevier

    Dr Rachael Eugenie Tarlinton, Dr Richard D Emes, Dr Robert Gifford

  62. Env -less endogenous retroviruses are genomic superspreaders

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2012, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  63. Viral evolution in deep time: lentiviruses and mammals

    Article • Trends in Genetics, February 2012, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  64. No trespassing: Ancient BST2 deletion confers protection against simian immunodeficiency virus infection of humans

    Article • Human Mutation, October 2011, Hindawi Publishing Corporation

    Dr Robert Gifford

  65. Endogenous Viral Elements in Animal Genomes

    Article • PLoS Genetics, November 2010, PLOS

    Dr Aris Katzourakis, Dr Robert Gifford

  66. The HIV-1 Subtype C Epidemic in South America Is Linked to the United Kingdom

    Article • PLOS One, February 2010, PLOS

    Dr Robert Gifford

  67. Macroevolution of Complex Retroviruses

    Article • Science, September 2009, American Association for the Advancement of Science

    Dr Aris Katzourakis, Dr Robert Gifford

  68. The calibrated population resistance tool: standardized genotypic estimation of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance

    Article • Bioinformatics, March 2009, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  69. Identification of a RELIK orthologue in the European hare (Lepus europaeus) reveals a minimum age of 12 million years for the lagomorph lentiviruses

    Article • Virology, February 2009, Elsevier

    Dr Robert Gifford

  70. Phylogenetic Reconstruction of Transmission Events from Individuals with Acute HIV Infection: Toward More‐Rigorous Epidemiological Definitions

    Article • The Journal of Infectious Diseases, February 2009, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Robert Gifford

  71. Demonstration of Sustained Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Lineages Circulating among Treatment-Naïve Individuals

    Article • Journal of Virology, January 2009, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  72. A transitional endogenous lentivirus from the genome of a basal primate and implications for lentivirus evolution

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2008, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  73. Natural variation of HIV-1 group M integrase: Implications for a new class of antiretroviral inhibitors

    Article • Retrovirology, August 2008, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford

  74. Sequence editing by Apolipoprotein B RNA-editing catalytic component-B and epidemiological surveillance of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance

    Article • AIDS, March 2008, Wolters Kluwer Health

    Dr Robert Gifford

  75. Phylogenetic Surveillance of Viral Genetic Diversity and the Evolving Molecular Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

    Article • Journal of Virology, September 2007, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  76. Discovery and analysis of the first endogenous lentivirus

    Article • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Dr Robert Gifford

  77. Evolution at the host–retrovirus interface

    Article • BioEssays, November 2006, Wiley

    Dr Robert Gifford

  78. Isolation of an Active Lv1 Gene from Cattle Indicates that Tripartite Motif Protein-Mediated Innate Immunity to Retroviral Infection Is Widespread among Mammals

    Article • Journal of Virology, August 2006, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  79. Assessment of automated genotyping protocols as tools for surveillance of HIV-1 genetic diversity

    Article • AIDS, July 2006, Wolters Kluwer Health

    Dr Robert Gifford

  80. Evolution and Distribution of Class II-Related Endogenous Retroviruses

    Article • Journal of Virology, May 2005, ASM Journals

    Dr Robert Gifford

  81. The Evolution, Distribution and Diversity of Endogenous Retroviruses

    Article • Virus Genes, May 2003, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Robert Gifford