News from March 2020

Pirbright begins testing new coronavirus vaccines on animals to help combat COVID-19

Posted: 25 March, 2020

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (pink) cultured in the lab.

The Pirbright Institute is joining in the global battle to help control COVID-19 by using its unique expertise and facilities to support the development of vaccines to protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the current pandemic.

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Pirbright shows new Nipah vaccines create ‘impressive’ immune response

Posted: 13 March, 2020

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.