Anne-Lie Blomström

I am a researcher at the Section of Virology, Department of Animal Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, SLU. My work lies at the interface between veterinary and comparative virology, with a particular focus on viruses in animals, arthropod vectors and wildlife, and their relevance for animal and human health.

Over the past years I have led and participated in several national and international projects funded by Formas, the Swedish Research Council (VR) and the Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research. These projects range from viral metagenomics in livestock and wildlife, to mechanistic studies of vector-borne viruses and insect-specific viruses.

In parallel with my research, I am actively engaged in teaching and supervision at BSc, MSc and PhD level and serve as coordinator of the Graduate School for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (GS-VMAS).

My research centres on virus discovery and infection biology, with three main, interconnected themes:

1. Viral metagenomics and virome characterisation
   I use high-throughput sequencing to characterise viral communities in animals and their environment. This includes work on the intestinal virome of pigs and calves, the equine virome, and viruses in vectors and wildlife (mosquitoes, ticks, bats, bushpigs). These studies have led to the discovery and genetic characterisation of numerous previously undescribed RNA and DNA viruses and contribute to improved understanding of viral diversity, emergence and potential zoonotic risks.
2. Vector-borne and insect-specific viruses
   A major focus is on arboviruses and insect-specific viruses (ISVs) in mosquitoes and other vectors. Using transcriptomics, small RNA sequencing and reverse genetics, I investigate how ISVs and arboviruses interact within the vector, and how this affects vector competence and transmission. We have shown, for example, that prior infection of mosquito cells with the insect-specific Lammi virus can reduce replication of West Nile virus, suggesting possible ISV-based control strategies.
3. Virus–host interactions and pathogenesis
   I also study the host response to infection, including work on flaviviruses, bunyaviruses and other emerging viruses. By combining cell culture models with transcriptomics and immunological readouts, I aim to understand how viral and host factors shape infection outcome, host tropism and cross-species transmission potential.

I am actively involved in teaching virology at multiple levels. At SLU I have:

Served as module leader for the virology components of

• VM0113 Allmän sjukdomslära / General mechanisms of disease (Veterinary Programme)
• BI1389 Biokemi, cellbiologi och mikrobiologi
• BI1391 Molekylär cellbiologi och mikrobiologi

Developed and led the PhD course “Diagnostic preparedness in an outbreak situation” (PVS0078).

Given lectures in several PhD courses, including Molecular Infection Biology (SLU) and Mosquito-borne pathogens and their vectors (Umeå University).

I supervise MSc and PhD students, postdocs and guest researchers, and regularly organise virology journal clubs and “virology-in-progress” meetings within our section.

Below follows 10 selected published original articles in peer-reviewed international journals. The articles have been selected to show diferent areas of my research. For all publication in pubmed click here.

Below follows 10 selected published original articles in peer-reviewed international journals. The articles have been selected to show different areas of my research.

1. Blomström AL, Hansen S, Riihimäki M. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a novel equine papillomavirus. Virus Genes. 2025 Oct 23. doi: 10.1007/s11262-025-02190-y.
2. Holst BS, Bonnevie A, Spens J, Lindahl JF, Huupponen A, Syrjä P, Blomström AL. Tick-borne encephalitis virus associated with foetal death in a bitch, a case report. Virology Journal. 2025 Oct 13;22(1):326. doi: 10.1186/s12985-025-02965-7
3. Blomström AL, Källse A, Riihimäki M. Detection and genetic characterization of equine viruses in Sweden using viral metagenomics. BMC Veterinary Research. 2025 Feb 27;21(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04613-2.
4. Bergholm J, Tessema TS, Blomström AL, Berg M. Metagenomic insights into the complex viral composition of the enteric RNA virome in healthy and diarrheic calves from Ethiopia. Virology Journal. 2025 Jun 7;22(1):188. doi: 10.1186/s12985-025-02821-8
5. Cholleti H, de Jong J, Blomström AL, Berg M. Investigation of the Virome and Characterization of Issyk-Kul Virus from Swedish Myotis brandtii Bats. Pathogens. 2022 Dec 21;12(1):12. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12010012.
6. Öhlund P, Delhomme N, Hayer J, Hesson JC, Blomström AL. Transcriptome Analysis of an Aedes albopictus Cell Line Single- and Dual-Infected with Lammi Virus and WNV. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Jan 14;23(2):875. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020875.
7. Öhlund P, Hayer J, Hesson JC, Blomström AL. Small RNA Response to Infection of the Insect-Specific Lammi Virus and Hanko Virus in an Aedes albopictus Cell Line. Viruses. 2021 Oct 29;13(11):2181. doi: 10.3390/v13112181.
8. Blomström AL, Luz H.R, Öhlund P, Lukenge M, Brandão P.E, Labruna M.B, Berg M. Novel Viruses Found in Antricola Ticks Collected in Bat Caves in the Western Amazonia of Brazil. Viruses 2020, 12, 48. doi: 10.3390/v12010048
9. Öhlund P, Hayer J, Lundén H, Hesson JC, Blomström AL. Viromics Reveal a Number of Novel RNA Viruses in Swedish Mosquitoes. Viruses. 2019 Nov 5;11(11). pii: E1027. doi: 10.3390/v11111027. 
10. Blomström AL, Quan G, Barry G, Wilkie G, Skelton JK, Baird M, McFarlane M, Schnettler E, Elliott RM, Palmarini M and Kohl A. Transcriptomic analysis reveals the host response to Schmallenberg virus in bovine cells and antagonistic effects of the NSs protein. BMC Genomics. 2015 Apr 19;16(1):324. doi: 10.1186/s12864-015-1538-9