Assistant Professor
Email: cbrook@berkeley.edu
Phone:
Lab Webpage: https://brooklab.org
Research Description
The Brook lab uses tools derived from field biology, molecular immunology, and epidemiological modeling to study how pathogens persist, transmit, and evolve in both wild animal and human hosts. Much of our work is focused on zoonotic infections derived from bat reservoirs, and we conduct the majority of our wildlife field studies in Madagascar. We also use populational viability analysis techniques to evaluate conservation trajectories for threatened wildlife, again with a regional focus in Madagascar. Finally, we conduct more applied human health research, focused on quantifying transmission dynamics for vector-borne and respiratory viruses circulating in the Global South, using public surveillance or genomic epidemiological data. Key research questions of specific interest to our group include:
- Why are bat viral zoonoses so virulent?
- How are zoonotic viruses maintained in wild animal hosts?
- What are the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens across the animal-human interface?
Selected Publications
Brook CE, Rozins C, Bohl JA, Ahyong V, Chea S, Fahsbender E, Huy R, Lay S, Leang R, Li Y, Lon C, Man S, Oum M, Northrup GR, Oliveira F, Pacheco AR, Parker DM, Young K, Boots M, Tato CM, DeRisi JL, Yek C, and Manning JE. Climate, demography, immunology, and virology combine to drive two decades of dengue virus dynamics in Cambodia. 2024. PNAS. 121 (36): e2318704121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2318704121.
Brook CE, Rozins C, Guth S, and Boots M. Reservoir host immunology and life history shape virulence evolution in zoonotic viruses. 2023. PLoS Biology. 21 (9): e3002268.doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002268.
Madera S, Kistler A, Ranaivoson HC, Ahyong V, Andrianiaina A, Andry S, Raharinosy V, Randriambolamanantsoa TH, Ravelomanantsoa NAF, Tato CM, DeRisi JL, Aguilar HC, Lacoste V, Dussart P, Heraud JM, Brook CE. Discovery and genomic characterization of a novel henipavirus, Angavokely virus, from fruit bats in Madagascar. J Virol. 2022 Sep 28;96(18):e0092122. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9517717.
Guth S, Mollentze N, Renault K, Streicker DG, Visher E, Boots M±, and Brook CE±. Bats host the most virulent—but not the most dangerous—zoonotic viruses. 2022. PNAS. 119 (14): e2113628119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2113628119.
Andriamandimby SF*, Brook CE*, Razanajatovo N, Randriambolamanantsoa TH, Rakotondramanga JM, Rasambainarivo F, Raharimanga V, Razanajatovo IM, Mangahasimbola R, Razafindratsimandresy R, Randrianarisoa S, Bernardson B, Rabarison JH, Randrianarisoa M, Nasolo FS, Rabetombosoa RM, Ratsimbazafy AM, Raharinosy V, Rabemananjara AH, Ranaivoson CH, Razafimanjato H, Randremanana R, Héraud JM, Dussart P. Cross-sectional cycle threshold values reflect epidemic dynamics of COVID-19 in Madagascar. Epidemics. 2022 Mar;38:100533. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8628610.
Brook CE, Boots M, Chandran KC, Dobson AP, Drosten C, Graham AL, Grenfell BT, Müller MA, Ng M, Wang L-F, and van Leeuwen A. 2020. Accelerated viral dynamics in bat cell lines, with implications for zoonotic emergence. eLife. 9: e48401.doi: 10.7554/eLife.48401.
Brook CE, Ranaivoson HC, Broder CC, Cunningham AA, Héraud JM, Peel AJ, Gibson L, Wood JLN, Metcalf CJ, Dobson AP. Disentangling serology to elucidate henipa- and filovirus transmission in Madagascar fruit bats. J Anim Ecol. 2019 Jul;88(7):1001-1016. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7122791.
* indicates co-first authorship; ±indicates co-senior authorship