My work in viral genomics and metagenomics has revolved around the use of next-generation sequencing to recover full-length viral genomes from complex metagenomic datasets, enabling the discovery and characterization of novel and uncultivated viruses. I also worked on the detection of respiratory viruses and identified drug-resistant hepatitis C virus variants in treatment-naïve patients, providing critical insights for clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine.

Selected references

Assembly of viral genomes from metagenomes Saskia L Smits, Rogier Bodewes, Aritz Ruiz-Gonzalez, Wolfgang Baumgärtner, Marion P Koopmans, Albert DME Osterhaus, Anita C Schürch Frontiers in microbiology 5, 714 (2014)

Exploring the potential of next-generation sequencing in detection of respiratory viruses Slinporn Prachayangprecha, Claudia ME Schapendonk, Marion P Koopmans, Albert DME Osterhaus, Anita C Schürch, Suzan D Pas, Annemiek A van der Eijk, Yong Poovorawan, Bart L Haagmans, Saskia L Smits Journal of clinical microbiology 52 (10), 3722-3730 (2014)

Recovering full-length viral genomes from metagenomes Saskia L Smits, Rogier Bodewes, Aritz Ruiz-González, Wolfgang Baumgärtner, Marion P Koopmans, Albert DME Osterhaus, Anita C Schürch Frontiers in microbiology 6, 1069 (2015)

Identification of HCV resistant variants against direct acting antivirals in plasma and liver of treatment naïve patients VS Raj, GB Hundie, AC Schürch, SL Smits, SD Pas, S Le Pogam, et. al. Scientific Reports 7 (1), 4688 (2017)