Dr. Stanislava Chtarbanova's lab focuses on understanding how aging affects the interactions between hosts and viruses, particularly in older adults who are more vulnerable to infections. Using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model, her team investigates the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that contribute to survival from viral infections and how these infections evolve within older hosts. The goal is to uncover insights that could lead to better treatments for elderly patients and prevent the emergence of new viral strains.