Category: News
Nipah vaccine candidates generate a strong immune response in pigs
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have shown that two new potential vaccines against Nipah virus developed by the University of Parma generate a strong immune response in pigs. These promising results suggest the vaccines could protect pigs against Nipah virus infection, which can cause respiratory problems and fatal encephalitis in pigs and humans. By preventing […]
Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the European Union
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its latest annual update on the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in the European Union. During the period covered by the report – November 2018 to October 2019 – Czechia became officially ASF-free. The disease was, however, confirmed as present in Slovakia, meaning there continue to […]
Resilience to bovine TB traced to key genes
Researchers have mapped active and inactive genes in bovine alveolar macrophages (bAM), which play a key role in countering bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infections. The findings of the study, led by scientists at University College Dublin (UCD) in collaboration with The Roslin Institute, are published in Frontiers in Genetics. In order to map which genes in […]
Bluetongue virus strain and origin in 2016 Cyprus outbreak determined
In September 2016, suspected cases of bluetongue in sheep were simultaneously reported in three different locations in Cyprus. Scientists at the European Union Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue (EURL-BT) at The Pirbright Institute confirmed that BTV-8 was present in all samples submitted by the National Reference Laboratory in Nicosia, Cyprus. This was the first time that […]
Experimental vaccine for African swine fever virus shows promise
Researchers have discovered a previously uncharacterized virus gene, which when deleted completely attenuates the Georgia isolate (ASFV-G) of African swine fever virus. Animals infected with this genetically modified virus were protected from developing ASF after challenge with the virulent parental virus. The findings are reported in the Journal of Virology. In the study, both low […]
Study finds Porcine deltacoronavirus is easily transmitted among chickens and turkeys
Experimental Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) infection and subsequent transmission among poultry is reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The Ohio State University researchers who led this work were part of a team that previously found in a laboratory setting that the virus could infect cells from multiple species, including chickens and humans. In the latest study, birds […]
Research sheds new light on molecular evolution of Foot-and-mouth disease virus
Research from The Pirbright Institute has shown that different populations of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) swap sections of genetic material at a far higher rate than originally thought. It was previously believed that FMDV evolution is mainly driven by mutations caused by small copying errors that accumulate in the RNA genome of the virus when […]
Genetic engineering speeds up poultry vaccine development
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have used genetic engineering to develop a vaccine that protects birds against both Marek’s disease and avian influenza. They say the process is faster and more efficient compared to previous methods, which will allow poultry vaccine producers to rapidly update vaccine strains in order to keep up with virus evolution. […]
Study uncovers replication sites of Porcine deltacoronavirus
A study carried out at The Pirbright Institute has identified the sites within the cell where Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) makes new copies of itself during replication. Using electron microscopy, researchers demonstrated that the virus creates replication organelles that are similar to other coronaviruses. Identified in 2012, PDCoV is an emerging Deltacoronavirus that infects pigs and […]
Modified BCG vaccine is compatible with a novel DIVA skin test
Scientists at the University of Surrey have developed a novel vaccine and complementary skin test to protect cattle against bovine tuberculosis. Publishing their findings in Scientific Reports, the researchers reveal they have created a vaccine that is compatible with a synthetic form of the tuberculin skin test (PPD). The BCG vaccine, which is currently used […]