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Identification of protein interacting partners using tandem affinity purification

A critical and often limiting step in understanding the function of host and viral proteins is the identification of interacting cellular or viral protein partners. There are many approaches that allow the identification of interacting partners, including the yeast two…

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High-resolution functional profiling of the norovirus genome

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are a major cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, yet details of the life cycle and replication of HuNoV are relatively unknown due to the lack of an efficient cell culture system. Studies with murine norovirus (MNV), which can be…

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Eimeria species occurrence varies between geographic regions and poultry production systems and may influence parasite genetic diversity

Coccidiosis is one of the biggest challenges faced by the global poultry industry. Recent studies have highlighted the ubiquitous distribution of all Eimeria species which can cause this disease in chickens, but intriguingly revealed a regional divide in genetic diversity…

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Knowledge gaps in host-parasite interaction preclude accurate assessment of meat-borne exposure to Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is recognized as a widely prevalent zoonotic parasite worldwide. Although several studies clearly identified meat products as an important source of T. gondii infections in humans, quantitative understanding of the risk posed to humans through the food…

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Cross-sectional study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pig farms in England

Ingestion of undercooked meat has been proposed as an important source of human Toxoplasma gondii infection. To ascertain the contribution of meat consumption to the risk of human infection, estimates of the prevalence of infection in meat-producing animals are required. A…

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Toxoplasma gondii detection in cattle: a slaughterhouse survey

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing viable cysts has been suggested to be a major source of T. gondii infection in humans. Suboptimal performance of serological assays in…

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Investigation into the humaneness of slaughter methods for guinea pigs (Cavia porcelus) in the Andean region

Guinea pigs ( Cavia porcelus) are an important source of nonhuman animal protein in the Andean region of South America. Specific guidelines regarding the welfare of guinea pigs before and during slaughter have yet to be developed. This study critically assessed the…

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Pathophysiology of free-bullet slaughter of horses and ponies

Forty-six equines were observed during routine commercial slaughter in an abattoir. The animals were shot once with a .22 calibre long rifle with hollow point rounds. Indicators of sensibility/insensibility were evaluated immediately after the shot (prior to exsanguination)…

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Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

The aim of this study was to examine the behavioural and cranial/spinal responses of alpacas culled by captive bolt shooting and the resulting pathophysiology of captive bolt injury. Ninety-six alpacas were shot (103 shots) in a range of locations with a penetrating captive…

Nature versus technology

Last autumn, students from Merrist Wood College were invited to participate in a competition to come up with a design for a quadrangle of land situated adjacent to the Institute’s new high containment laboratories currently being built on site. The competition formed part of…