Ervin Fodor

There is still time to apply; join our team to work on influenza virus replication mechanisms!

Exciting job opportunities!

Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at
@dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly.

More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

Thrilled to share that our latest manuscript using smFRET to study inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 is now out!

doi.org/10.1093/nar/...

Congrats and thanks to amazing co-authors and collaborators for all the hard work. @efodor.bsky.social @jeremykeown.bsky.social @andrewmcmahon1345.bsky.social

Huge congratulations to Dani!

Massive congratulations to Dani from the lab who passed her PhD viva yesterday! Special thanks to her wonderful co-supervisor @efodor.bsky.social, to her examiners @davidlvbauer.bsky.social and @jeremykeown.bsky.social and to the Warwick MRC-DTP for funding her PhD! 🦠🎓🎂

Many thanks to GfV for the invitation to present our collaborative work with Jonathan Grimes' group. It's a pleasure to attend #GfV2025!

The last keynote speaker of day 2, Prof. Ervin Fordor from Oxford, presented interesting data on the multifunctionality of the RNA polymerase complex of the influenza virus. #GfV2025
(HMB)

Europe needs a sustainably funded influenza research and response network Influenza viruses have caused four pandemics during the last century.1 The 1918 H1N1 pandemic claimed 20–50 million lives, the 1957 H2N2 pandemic and the 1968 H3N2 pandemic claimed 1–4 million lives e...

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Europe needs a sustainably funded influenza research and response network

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

A DNA-PAINT protocol for the segment-specific detection of viral vRNPs. Virus particles are surface-immobilized, fixed, permeabilized and incubated with non-fluorescent barcoded probes, that bind to 20-50 different sequences on a viral RNA segment. All probes carry the same segment-specific oligonucleotide extension that is transiently bound by fluorescent imager strands. Several combinations of barcode extensions and imager strands can be used to sequentially to detect various gene segments in a single virus particle.

First BlueSky post + a breath of fresh air! Excited about our preprint on the packaging + structure of viral RNA segments in influenza virions: doi.org/10.1101/2025.... A saga from amazing Christof and Qing, and a great collaboration with @nicolerobb.bsky.social and @efodor.bsky.social.

Happy to be part of this beautiful work using DNA-PAINT to study genome packaging in influenza 😊thanks to all co-authors @efodor.bsky.social & Christof, Achilles and Qing! Check it out here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A picture of a Fresian cow whose markings resemble influenza viruses

Our study on pasteurising influenza viruses in milk is now out! It's a nice simple story: influenza viruses (including H5N1) are killed really effectively by pasteurisation, but in raw milk they stay infectious - obvious public health implications of both points... (1/2)
rdcu.be/d73te

Bird flu cases surging in UK but risk to humans remains low Restrictions have recently been put in place in England and Scotland to curb the spread of bird flu.

What's going on with bird flu in the UK at the moment? I wrote a piece for @uk.theconversation.com explaining what we know at the moment, and why it's not yet time to worry
theconversation.com/bird-flu-cas...

We just can't stop recruiting!

Associate professor in cell and molecular biology @dunnschool, with a preference for immunology, inflammation and/or infection - all defined broadly

Come and be our colleague

Deadline 28 Feb, please spread the word

www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...

A two-step mechanism for RIG-I activation by influenza virus mini viral RNAs Influenza A virus (IAV) non-canonical replication products can be bound by various host pathogen sensors, including retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). However, it is not clear why non-canonical I...

Excited to share this new preprint showing that non-canonical influenza virus transcripts are produced in a sequence/RNA structure-dependent manner on aberrant RNAs: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Polymerase mutations underlie adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus to dairy cattle and other mammals. In early 2024, an unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza was detected in dairy cattle in the USA. The epidemic remains uncontrolled, with spillbacks into poultry, wild birds...

Really proud to share our preprint describing early adaptation of H5N1 to US dairy cattle, and showing how these mutations enhance the ability of the virus to infect other mammals, such as pigs and humans.

With @influenzal.bsky.social @vidhid.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social and many more!

Structure of the Nipah virus polymerase complex | The EMBO Journal imageimageThe RNA polymerase complex of the Nipah virus is responsible for both replication and transcription of the viral RNA genome. This study elucidates the structure of the RNA polymerase in comp...

The last days of 2024 but hey: I am happy to share that our new paper is out!

www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

The cover of Biophysical Reports, showing an influenza virus particle partially disassembling to release lipid molecules and expose the interior

Delighted to hear that Andrew McMahon and Nicole Robb's study 'Engineering stress as a motivation for filamentous virus morphology,' which we and other @cvrinfo.bsky.social authors collaborated in, is now a beautiful cover image. You can read the paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Effect of pandemic influenza A virus PB1 genes of avian origin on viral RNA polymerase activity and pathogenicity Past influenza pandemics contained polymerase genes from avian influenza viruses, affecting viral replication and pathogenicity.

Just published - pandemic influenza PB1 genes of avian origin reduce polymerase activity and virulence in low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Insights into host adaptation and zoonotic risk.
www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...

Structural characterization of the full-length Hantaan virus polymerase Author summary Hantaviruses are widely distributed viruses that can undergo zoonosis where they cause severe disease in humans. Old World hantaviruses, found predominantly in Asia and Europe, can caus...

Excited to share our work describing a series of structures that allow us to propose a new model for Hantavirus genome replication by the viral L-protein. Another great experience with @loiccarrique.bsky.social @ben-nilsson-payant.bsky.social @efodor.bsky.social Jon Grimes.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Congratulations Hana!

We have found a capped flu RNA that was hiding in plain sight. In our preprint we show how this RNA activates RIG-I through a non-canonical mechanism. Fantastic work by Liza Elshina and many thanks to collaborators @alistairrussell.bsky.social and Joe Marcotrigiano! biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Wendy Barclay and I will soon be recruiting a postdoc to work on a virology project investigating the evolution of swine influenza viruses and how this impacts future pandemic potential.
Job will be based at Imperial's South Kensington campus. Drop me a DM/email for more details.

There is still time to apply!

Associate professor, immunity/inflammation/infection (defined broadly) especially welcome

Come and join a great community of supportive colleagues!

Deadline 25 October, please spread the word

www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...

Stephen Cusack appointed new Visiting Professor of Structural Biology - Dunn School The honour recognises our previous Head of Department’s pioneering work in fundamental and therapeutic immunology research, which spearheaded the development of engineered antibodies for treatment of ...

We are pleased to announce that eminent structural biologist Stephen Cusack, former head of EMBL Grenoble, has been appointed an Oxford University visiting professor @dunnschool.bsky.social

www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...

A great opportunity for a virologist/immunologist to join a fantastic community of supportive colleagues @dunnschool.bsky.social

www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...

Thanks Daniel.

Structures of H5N1 influenza polymerase with ANP32B reveal mechanisms of genome replication and host adaptation - Nature Communications The authors demonstrate how avian H5N1 influenza A virus polymerase interacts with human ANP32B to facilitate the replication of the viral genetic information in mammalian hosts, revealing insights in...

From @efodor.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Beautiful structures explaining the story behind some mutations which are relevant at the moment for cow flu. Also, nice to see that subtle differences between the FluC and FluA structures determine which mutations make a difference.

Structural and functional characterisation of the interaction between the influenza A virus RNA poly... bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution

RNA polymerase of the 1918 pandemic influenza A virus binds to the serine 5 phosphorylated C-terminal domain of host RNA polymerase II to promote viral mRNA synthesis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Thanks!

Thanks!