Ranaviruses (family Iridoviridae, genus Ranavirus) are large, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect economically and ecologically important freshwater cold-blooded vertebrates including fish, amphibians and reptiles. In spite of the global impact ranaviruses have on these important hosts, our current understanding of the mechanism(s) of RV evolution and pathogenesis is extremely limited. My research focus is to begin to understand the genomics and host-pathogen interactions that influence the evolution, host-range and pathogenesis of these important pathogens of cold-blooded vertebrates.

Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Arizona State University

M.S.  in Biology, Arizona State University

B.S. Microbiology, Arizona State University

Jancovich, J.K., Chinchar, V.G., Hyatt, A., Miyazaki, T., Williams, T., and Zhang, Q.Y. 2012 (in press).  Family Iridoviridae.  9^th Report of the International Committee for the Taxonomy Viruses.

Chinchar, V.G., Yu, K.H. and Jancovich, J.K. 2011. The molecular biology of Frog virus 3 and other iridoviruses infecting cold-blooded vertebrates. Viruses, 3: 1959-1985.

Jancovich, J.K. and Jacobs, B.L. 2011. Innate immune evasion mediated by the Ambystoma tigrinum virus eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2a homologue. Journal of Virology, 85: 5061-5069.

Jancovich, J.K., Bremont, M., Touchman, J.W., and Jacobs, B.L. 2010. Evidence for multiple recent host species shifts among the Ranaviruses (family Iridoviridae). Journal of Virology, 84: 2636-2647.

Storfer, A.S., Alfaro, M.E., Ridenhour, B.J., Jancovich, J.K., Mech, S.G., Parris, M.J., and Collins, J.P. 2007. Phylogenetic concordance analysis shows an emerging pathogen is novel and endemic. Ecology Letters, 10: 1075-1083.

Pallister, J., Gould, A., Harrison, D., Hyatt, A., Jancovich, J.K., and Heine, H. 2007. Development of real-time PCR assays for the detection and differentiation of Australian and European ranaviruses. Journal of Fish Disease, 30: 427-438.

Schock, D.M., Bollinger, T.K., Chinchar, V.G., Jancovich, J.K., and Collins, J.P. 2007. Experimental evidence of amphibian ranaviruses as multi-host pathogens. Copia, 2008: 133-143.

Langland, J.O., Cameron, J.M., Heck, M.C., Jancovich, J.K., and Jacobs, B.L. 2006. Inhibition of PKR by RNA and DNA viruses. Virus Research, 119: 100-110.

Rojas, S., Richards, K., Jancovich, J.K., and Davidson, E.W. 2005. Influence of temperature on ranavirus infection in larval salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 63: 95-100.

Jancovich, J.K., Davidson, E.W., Parameswaran, N., Mao, J., Chinchar, V.G., Collins, J.P., Jacobs, B.L. and Storfer, A. 2005. Evidence for emergence of an amphibian iridoviral disease because of human-enhanced spread. Molecular Ecology, 14: 213-224.

Collins, J.P., Brunner, J.L., Jancovich, J.K., and Schock, D.M. 2004. A model host-pathogen system for studying infectious disease dynamics in amphibians: tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) and Ambystoma tigrinum virus. Herpetological Journal, 14: 195-200.

Jancovich, J.K., Mao, J., Chinchar, V.G., Wyatt, C., Case, S.T., Kumar, S., Valente, G., Subramanian, S., Davidson, E.W., Collins, J.P., and Jacobs, B.L. 2003. Genomic sequence of a ranavirus (family Iridoviridae) associated with salamander mortalities in North America. Virology, 316: 90-103.

Rosell, R.C., Davidson, E.W., Jancovich, J.K., Hendrix, D.L., and Brown, J.K. 2003. Size exclusion limitations in the filter chamber and digestive tract of nymphal and adult Bemisia tabaci whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 96: 544-552.

Davidson, E.W., Jancovich, J.K., Borland, S., Newberry, M., and Gresens, J. 2003. What's your diagnosis? Dermal lesions, hemorrhage, and limb swelling in laboratory axolotols. Lab Animal 32: 23-24.

Jancovich, J.K., Davidson, E.W., Seiler, A., Jacobs, B.L. and Collins, J.P. 2001. Transmission of Ambystoma tigrinum virus to alternative hosts. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 46: 159-163.

Brunkow, P.E., J.P. Collins, and J.K. Jancovich. 2000. Effects of grazers on freshwater habitats: interaction between salamanders and terrestrial grazers. Final report, Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund, IIPAM (Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management of Sensitive Habitat): 54 pp.

Jancovich, J.K., Davidson, E.W., Morado, J.F., Jacobs, B.L. and Collins, J.P. 1997. Isolation of a lethal virus from an endangered tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum stebbinsi.  Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 31: 161-167.

Jancovich, J.K., Davidson, E.W., Lavine, M. and Hendrix, D.L. 1997. Feeding chamber and diet for culture of nymphal silverleaf whitefly, Bemesia argentifolii.  Journal of Economic Entomology. 90: 628-633.