Andrea S. Bertke

Andrea S. Bertke, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on neurotropic viruses, particularly herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1/HSV-2) and SARS-CoV-2, investigating molecular mechanisms of latency, reactivation, and neuronal pathogenesis. She explores how stress hormones and neurotrophic factors influence viral behavior in sensory and autonomic neurons, while also studying SARS-CoV-2 survival on food surfaces and its neurological impacts.

Education:

• PhD in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (2007)
• BS in Microbiology, Bowling Green State University (2001)

Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of HSV latency/reactivation; HSV neuronal tropism; SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion and foodborne survival; development of antivirals targeting latency; zoonotic disease transmission. Her work bridges virology, neuroscience, and public health, with emphasis on translational applications.

Professional Contributions: Active member of the Society for Neuroscience, American Society of Microbiology, and American Society of Virology. Her publications span 2007–2025, addressing HSV biology, SARS-CoV-2 dynamics, and neurotropic virus pathogenesis. Recent work highlights viral survival in food systems and neuronal infection pathways.

Labs/Teams: Leads research on neurotropic viruses and zoonotic disease interfaces. Collaborates on One Health approaches to emerging viral and vector-borne diseases.