Dr Michelle Wille

Dr Michelle Wille's primary research focus is the dynamics of wild bird viruses: the ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses in waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, which utilise a range of migratory strategies to disseminate viruses. She is currently working on the dynamics of avian influenza in in Australia and Antarctica through detection, isolation and characterisation of viruses, but also using serology. Beyond influenza A, she is starting to assess viromes in wild birds, with a particular interest in ecological drivers of observed patterns. Current projects are being undertaken in collaboration with Aeron Hurt at WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza, Marcel Klaassen at Deakin University and Edward Holmes at University of Sydney.

Previous (and on going) research is focussed on influenza A in seabirds and gulls in North America, and waterfowl in Europe, in particular, using surveillance systems to assess virus ecology, host range, evolutionary dynamics and host pathogen interactions. Additionally, experimental systems to assess transmission dynamics and virus competitions. Michelle is also interested in other RNA viruses, namely avian paramyxovirus type 1,  avian coronavirus and avian astroviruses.