Tarka Raj Bhatta

B.Sc Microbiology, M.Sc. Biotechnology

Principal Supervisor:       Prof Soren Alexandersen

Associate Supervisor:     Dr Anthony Chamings

Project Summary:

Tarka is currently working on the project: ‘Detection and Characterisation of Animal Influenza Viruses by using Next Generation Sequencing’.  His work will focus on swine and birds and may also include other animals such as horses, dogs and cats. We are trying to identify potential viruses along with influenza viruses circulating in these animals by using NGS in order to detect viruses at an early stage before they may cause any pandemic threat around the globe. Tarka is also a joint PhD-student at University of Copenhagen, Denmark for parts of this project. He will be working with the team of Prof. Jens Peter Nielsen on swine samples in Denmark during part of 2019.

Date of Commencement: August 2017

Key activities involved: 

• RNA/DNA extraction
• cDNA preparation
• PCR
• Next Generation Sequencing
• Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis

Collaborative partners:

• Deakin University
• University of Copenhagen, Denmark