Viruses are capable of infecting all forms of life—including humans, animals, plants, fungi, insects, algae, archaea, bacteria, and even other viruses.

My journey with viruses began during my MSc (Hons) research in 1988 and has continued ever since. I worked extensively on viruses throughout my PhD (1994-1999) at the University of Adelaide, Australia, followed by postdoctoral fellowships in Japan, Australia, and the USA. In 2007, I joined the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Assistant Professor, where my work on viruses continues to this day.

From 1988 to 2007, my research focused primarily on viruses that infect plants. After joining the University of Tulsa, my interests expanded to include viruses that affect humans and animals as well as fungi (Mycoviruses). This shift led me to develop and teach two courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels: “Introduction to Virology” and “Biology of Cancer.” These courses explore a range of medically significant viruses, including HIV, Hepatitis, Herpes, Smallpox, Influenza, and cancer-associated viruses.