In my lab, we apply state-of-the-art molecular tools and animal models to study the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. We are currently working with emerging Zika virus, and re-emerging and geographically expanding Japanese encephalitis virus. We are particularly interested in flavivirus evolution and non-vector transmission. Another direction in my lab is to study how CpG dinucleotide enrichment in virus RNA genomes affects virus interactions with host proteins. We use this knowledge to develop better live attenuated vaccines and oncolytic viruses.