Award details

RSE/BBSRC Enterprise Fellowship Dr Nicholas Montague

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA360
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor George Lomonossoff
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	47,825
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2008
End date	30/09/2009
Duration	12 months

Abstract

Reliable positive controls are vital when performing diagnostic testing of potential disease samples. Without robust positive controls there is always the possibility of producing a false negative result. The potential seriousness of such an outcome when testing for a disease such as foot-and-mouth cannot be exaggerated. The highly sensitive method of real-time reverse-transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) is now the routine front-line tool for diagnosis of viruses in clinical samples. Guidelines for the validation and quality control of these PCR-based tests require internal controls to be included within the assay. The current controls used are artificial RNA constructs. However this 'naked' RNA is far from ideal as a control as it is prone to degradation and, more importantly, cannot accurately follow the diagnostic protocol from start to finish. The genetic material of viruses, such as FMDV, is protected within a protein 'shell' and must be extracted prior to PCR testing; naked RNA does not require this. In order for a control to accurately follow this step in the procedure we have developed a novel method of encapsulating RNA within a cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) viral capsid. These non-pathogenic chimaeric virus particles would be added to the potential disease sample taken directly from the suspect animal and taken through the entire diagnostic process. In addition, diagnostic laboratories worldwide are required to undergo proficiency testing to insure uniformity of results. To this end accurately quantified and identical disease samples must be used at each laboratory. Containment and security concerns prohibit the sending of viral disease samples to these laboratories, however the encapsidated mimics would be ideal for this purpose. It is proposed that the use for proficiency testing will be licensed to the appropriate regulatory bodies. In the future the encapsidated mimics could be trialled for use within for human medical diagnostics.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	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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