James Van Etten

James Van Etten is the William Allington Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and Nebraska Center for Virology. His research focuses on chloroviruses—large dsDNA viruses infecting Chlorella-like algae—with emphasis on DNA replication, restriction systems, and membrane transport proteins.

• Key research themes include:
  • Viral DNA modification systems
  • Host-virus interactions
  • Structural virology
  • Evolution of organellar genomes
• Recent work analyzed:
• SMRT sequencing of viral methylation patterns
• Chlorovirus cryopreservation methods
• Potassium channel biophysics
• Host chemical signaling mechanisms
• Lab webpage: vanettenlab.unl.edu