Category: News
2022 African Swine Fever Virus Research Review
This review of the research into African swine fever and its control looks at the progress made since 2015. Since then, the disease has spread through Europe, China and other parts of Asia, and to the Dominican Republic, and research efforts to find effective control measure, including vaccines have been stepped up. The review was […]
Infectious bronchitis virus: reverse genetics system aids vaccine development
Researchers from The Pirbright Institute working to improve vaccines for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have developed a reverse genetics system, based on the pathogenic IBV strain M41, to identify genes which can be targeted for rational attenuation. Current vaccines for IBV are created by serial passage of virulent IBV field isolates through embryonated hens’ eggs. […]
Model suggests gene editing combined with vaccination could eliminate PRRS
Some livestock diseases could potentially be eradicated by introducing a proportion of animals that are genetically resistant to disease due to gene editing into some vaccinated herds, research led by the Roslin Institute suggests. A modelling study focusing on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences […]
GARA 2022 Scientific Meeting, Dominican Republic – Travel Awards announced
The GARA (Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance) 2022 Scientific Meeting will be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on May 24-26. The scientific sessions will cover epidemiology, virology, pathogenesis, immunology, diagnostics, and vaccines, and there will be updates on African swine fever in the Dominican Republic and global situation. Early registration is until 15 […]
Novel Hendra virus variant discovered in Australian horses
Research led by the University of Sydney has identified a new variant of the Hendra virus as a cause of fatal illness in Australian horses, and of risk for virus spillover into humans. The research is published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. In Australia, Hendra virus circulates among flying foxes and can be transmitted to horses. […]
Swine influenza: study examines the adaptive immune response of pigs
Researchers at the Pirbright Institute investigated the adaptive immune response of pigs to swine influenza virus and identified T cells which are important for fighting infection and for long term protection. Published in Mucosal Immunology, the study defines four different types of CD8 T cells and the tissues where the cells are found. Results showed […]
Stem cell lines to aid study of host-pathogen interactions in pigs
A method of producing immune cells from stem cells for research into pig infectious diseases is affordable, practical and ethical, a study led by scientists from the Roslin Institute suggests. The use of porcine pluripotent stem cell lines as a source of macrophages, is described in BMC Biology. Investigations using the technique will benefit from […]
Highly virulent Escherichia coli causes oedema disease in wild boars
A study led by scientists from INRAE, ENVT and the Université de Toulouse, identified a bacterium potentially lethal for pigs in wild boars in France. The findings, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, show that the emergence of oedema disease in wild boars was caused by a new hybrid strain of Escherichia coli, which so far […]
FMDV: fibrils may play a key role in viral replication
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy to observe tiny structures created by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Biologists from the University of Leeds in collaboration with colleagues at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, observed the interaction between components of the virus in test tube experiments under bio-secure conditions. High-resolution images revealed the formation of […]
Coronavirus RNA synthesis occurs within membrane-bound sites
In a study of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), published in Viruses, researchers at The Pirbright Institute found that replication of coronavirus genetic material (RNA) in host cells happens in a separate membrane-bound compartment within the cell. These compartments are likely to provide a way to protect the RNA from being recognised by the cell’s natural […]