Dr. Ramamoorthy studies viruses that cause respiratory disease in pigs, including the circovirus, influenza virus, and PRRSV (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus). Circoviruses in particular provide an interesting platform for studying how viruses make use of a host to induce disease, because they are some of the smallest viruses known with just two proteins. In addition, Dr. Ramamoorthy studies the immune mechanisms by which vaccines work in an effort to develop more sophisticated vaccines.