Julia Bergholm

I am a PhD student in biomedical sciences (virology) at HBIO. My doctoral project is a collaboration with Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, where we investigate pathogens in calves suffering from diarrhea. Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, and diarrheal disease is one of the leading causes of death among calves.

In the project, samples are collected from both healthy and sick animals and analyzed for various pathogens. The samples are also examined further using an in-depth analysis method, viral metagenomics, which provides a complete picture of the virome and the potential to detect entirely new viruses or new variants of known viruses.

The project includes fieldwork in Ethiopia, various molecular methods in the laboratory, as well as bioinformatic analysis. Being able to combine and take part in all these different aspects of the project is both a fantastic opportunity and an incredibly valuable learning experience!

I also have a strong interest in EIDs (emerging infectious diseases), particularly viral zoonoses.

Background
Before starting my PhD studies, I earned a degree in medical sciences at Uppsala University (Master’s Programme in Infection Biology) and then worked as an infection biologist at the Uppsala University Hospital, monitoring and conducting research on SARS-CoV-2, using the Nanopore sequencing method. Previously, I also worked in laboratories for clinical bacteriology and microbiological water analysis.

Improving animal and human health via identification and characterization of diarrhoeal pathogens in ruminants in Ethiopia - Vetenskapsrådet (2022-)

Master of Medical Science, 2019-2021 - Uppsala University

Bachelor of Science, 2016-2019 - Uppsala University 

Redda YT, Adamu H, Bergholm J, Lindahl JF, Blomström A-L, Berg M and Sisay Tessema T (2025) Rotavirus A genotype diversity and antigenic profile in Central Ethiopia: implications for rotarix® vaccine efficacy. Front. Microbiol. 16:1656797. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1656797

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