ELTE Computational Virology Lab
Our group is interested in the data analysis, modeling and evolutionary theory of diseases, with an emphasis on viral infections.
Goals & methods
Our theoretical expertise spans virology, immunology, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, and the modeling of biological systems.
We conduct analyses using bioinformatics algorithms and pipelines, statistical methods, and mathematical and simulation modeling.
Research areas
We conduct genomic and phylogenetic analyses to uncover patterns in the transmission and evolution of viral pathogens.
We simulate and analyze the spread of epidemics.
We model the within-host dynamics of viral infections, with a primary focus on HIV.
We formulate and test evolutionary hypotheses related to health and disease.
From time to time we contribute to studies outside our main areas of interest.
Recent publications
- Müller, V.; Steels, L.; Szathmáry, E. Evolvable AI: Threats of a New Major Transition in Evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2026, 123, e2527700123, doi:10.1073/pnas.2527700123.
- Koroknai, A.; Nagy, A.; Nagy, O.; Csonka, N.; Zsichla, L.; Szomor, K.; Takács, M. Human Hantavirus Infections in Hungary (2018–2025): Epidemiology, Molecular Detection Across Clinical Sample Types, and Phylogenetic Analysis. Viruses 2026, 18, doi:10.3390/v18030366.
- Zsichla, L.; Adravecz, L.; Müller, D.; Lemey, P.; Lakatos, Á.; Ari, E.; Kusejko, K.; Kouyos, R.; Szlávik. J.; Lakatos, B.; Áy, É. and Müller, V. Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Hungary: an evolving contact zone of colliding virus subtypes. Front. Microbiol. 2025, 16:1732254. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1732254
- Dencs, Á.; Hettmann, A.; Zsichla, L.; Müller, V.; Dömötör, A.; Barna-Lázár, Á.; Barcsay, E.; Takács, M. Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in Hungary (2018–2025): Emergence of Rare Subtypes and First Detection of HEV-4 in Central Europe. Viruses 2025, 17, 1389, doi:10.3390/v17101389.
- Zsichla, L.; Zeeb, M.; Fazekas, D.; Áy, É.; Müller, D.; Metzner, K.J.; Kouyos, R.D.; Müller, V. Comparative Evaluation of Open-Source Bioinformatics Pipelines for Full-Length Viral Genome Assembly. Viruses 2024, 16, 1824, doi:10.3390/v16121824.
Team members
Viktor Müller, PhD
Viktor Müller is associate professor at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He is also Vice Dean at the Faculty of Science.
Levente Zsichla, MSc
Levente Zsichla received his Master’s degree in Biology with a specialization in Bioinformatics, and is a PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Anu Bazarragchaa, MSc
Anu Bazarragchaa is a PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University. She holds an MSc. in Biology from Eötvös Loránd University and a BSc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Debrecen.
Dóra Sipos, MSc
Dóra Sipos received her master’s degree in Biology at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. She’s research assistant at HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute and a PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University.
Mónika Pál, MSc
Mónika Pál received her BSc in Biology in Cluj-Napoca, followed by an MSc in Medical Biology. She is a PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University and also works in data analysis at the Ministry for Living Environment in Hungary.
Zoltán Mendler, BSc
Zoltán Mendler is currently doing his MSc studies at Pázmány Péter Catholic University.
Past members
- Adravecz, Lilla
- Apari, Péter (publications)
- Áy, Éva (publications)
- Bartha, István (publications)
- Ferdinandy, Bence (publications)
- Könnyű, Balázs (publications)
- Mokos, Judit (publications)
- Móréh, Ágnes (publications)
- Müller, Dalma (publications)
- Török, Zoltán
Collaborations
NNGYK
We collaborate with the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy on analyses of the molecular epidemiology of HIV in Hungary.
DPCK
We work with the South-Pest Hospital Centre on analyses of the epidemiology of HIV in Hungary.
ENL
We are part of the National Laboratory for Health Security in Hungary.
SHCS
We collaborate with the SHCS and the University Hospital of Zurich on analyses of clinical and genomic HIV data.
KUL
We collaborate with KU Leuven towards a better understanding of the origin of the HIV pandemic.
CONTACT
Our Address
Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., Budapest, H-1117, Hungary
Room 7.503
Call us
Phone/ext.: +36-1-3722500/8798
Email us
mueller.viktor@ttk.elte.hu