Nicole Sexton

Nicole R. Sexton, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the School of Biological Sciences and the Nebraska Center for Virology. Her research focuses on viral genetic adaptations that permit viruses to survive and flourish in alternating host environments, particularly RNA arboviruses that cycle between arthropod and vertebrate hosts.

Education:

• Postdoctoral fellowship, Colorado State University
• Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
• B.S., University of California – Santa Cruz
• A.S., Santa Rosa Junior College

Dr. Sexton's research interests center on viral genetic robustness, particularly in pathogenic viruses that cycle between arthropod and vertebrate hosts. She investigates how arboviruses like Zika, chikungunya, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and Rift Valley fever viruses balance high mutation rates with cyclical transmission between different host species. Her work examines viral strategies to evade distinct immune functions across host species, how viral genetic robustness affects infection in different hosts, how arboviral populations prevent disruption from deleterious mutations while maintaining diversity for selection, and the distinct pressures applied to arboviruses from their arthropod hosts.

Analysis of Dr. Sexton's recent publications (2016-2023) reveals a strong focus on viral evolution, particularly in arboviruses and coronaviruses. Her work spans molecular virology, host-virus interactions, viral genetics, and epidemiology. Key themes include viral adaptation to multiple hosts, mutation rates and genetic diversity, vector competence, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics. Her research employs multi-tiered approaches including bioinformatics, computational comparisons, molecular biology, classical virology, mosquito infections, and high-throughput sequencing technologies.

Dr. Sexton leads the Sexton Lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which investigates mechanisms of efficient spread by arboviruses and virus traits associated with host preferences. The lab utilizes various approaches to study host-virus interactions, with a particular focus on how viruses maintain genetic robustness while adapting to alternating host environments.