Award details

Large DNA Viruses

Reference	BBS/E/I/00002087
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Philippa Beard
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	282,131
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	23/02/2015
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	25 months

Abstract

The veterinary megavirales research group aims to examine the molecular interactions between these highly specialised viruses and the host, and apply the resultant discoveries to novel diagnostic, treatment and prevention strategies. The megavirales are large DNA viruses which replicate almost exclusively in the cytoplasm. They include two genera with substantial veterinary impact – the Asfarviridae and Capripoxviridae. African swine fever virus is the sole species in the asfarviridae genus. It causes a rapidly fatal disease in domestic pigs and is currently spreading from the Caucasus westwards through Europe. There is no vaccine currently available, and as such this virus represents a clear danger to the pig industry of Europe. The capripoxvirus genus includes three species of poxvirus – Sheeppox virus, Goatpox virus and Lumpy skin disease virus. These poxviruses affect ruminants and cause of substantial loss to subsistence farmers in Africa and south east and central Asia. The most serious threat to the UK is Lumpy skin disease virus which, over the past decade, has steadily spread through the Middle East to Turkey and entered Europe for the first time in 2015. It has since continued to spread through Greece and Bulgaria, and into Macedonia. To facilitate development of better diagnostic tools and vaccines against the viruses the Megavirales research group at Pirbright will (i) Sequence and compare the genomes of a panel of capripoxvirus strains to identify genes which determine host specificity and virulence. The role of the proteins encoded by the genes will then be determined. (ii) Use high throughput screening techniques to identify host proteins which strongly influence Megavirales replication, and investigate their mechanisms of function. (iii) Study the innate immune response to virus infection, with emphasis on uncovering how the viruses are detected by the host. These fundamental studies will shed light on this remarkable group of viruses and aid the development of more effective means of disease detection and control.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Animal Health, Immunology, Microbiology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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