Julia Bergholm

I am a PhD student in biomedical sciences (virology) at HBIO. My PhD project is a collaboration with the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia where we investigate what pathogens are present in young ruminants suffering from diarrheic disease. Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa and diarrheic disease is a leading cause for mortality among calves, lambs and goat kids. Samples from diarrheic and healthy ruminants will be screened for different pathogens and analyzed using viral metagenomics, enabling us to get a full picture of the virome and possibly discover novel or new variants of viruses. The project combines field work with molecular methods in the lab and bioinformatic analysis. Being involed in all stages of the research project is a fantastic opportunity and experience!

Prior to my PhD studies I received a master's degree in Medical Sciences (Infection Biology) from Uppsala University and then I worked as an infection biologist at The Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska Sjukhuset) with Nanopore sequencing of SARS-CoV-2. 

Improving animal and human health via identification and characterization of diarrhoeal pathogens in ruminants in Ethiopia - Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)

Master of Medical Science, 2019-2021 - Uppsala University

Bachelor of Science, 2016-2019 - Uppsala University 

Bergholm, J., Tessema, T.S., Blomström, AL. et al. Metagenomic insights into the complex viral composition of the enteric RNA virome in healthy and diarrheic calves from Ethiopia.Virol J 22, 188 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02821-8

Redda, Y.T., Adamu, H., Bergholm, J. et al. Detection and characterization of bovine coronavirus and rotavirus in calves in Ethiopia. BMC Vet Res 21, 122 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04563-9

Bergholm, J., Tessema, T.S., Blomström, AL., Berg, M. Detection and molecular characterization of major enteric pathogens in calves in central Ethiopia. BMC Vet Res20, 389 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04258-7

Wasberg, A., Faria, I.R., Bergholm, J. et al. Assessing compatibility and viral fitness between poultry-adapted H9N2 and wild bird-derived neuraminidases. Sci Rep 13, 4476 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31653-1

Mannsverk, S., Bergholm, J., Palanisamy, N. et al. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and spike protein mutational dynamics in a Swedish cohort during 2021, studied by Nanopore sequencing. Virol J 19, 164 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01896-x

Martinell M, Andersson T, Mannsverk SS, Bergholm J, Ellström P, Hill A, Lindh J, Kaden R. In-Flight Transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.617.2 Harbouring the Rare S:E484Q Immune Escape Mutation. Viruses. 2022; 14(3):504. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14030504