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Pirbright student wins award to study the role of insects in lumpy skin disease infection

First year PhD student Charlotte Cook was recently thrilled to learn that she is being given an In Vivo Skills Award from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. Only three such awards are offered by the BBSRC…

pig lying in hay pirbright

Pigs can be used to test human flu vaccines say Pirbright scientists

A new study from researchers at The Pirbright Institute suggests that pigs may be a good model for evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines designed to protect against seasonal human flu. In a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology the study, led by Dr Elma…

KMO knock-out mosquitoes. One the left with black eyes, on the right with white eyes.

Pirbright scientists create white eyed mosquitoes to progress genetic population control methods

Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool to knock out a gene in Culex quinquefasciatus Say, an understudied species of mosquito that spreads a variety of bird, animal and human diseases, including West Nile virus. The study provides…

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FMD vaccine matching: inter laboratory study for improved understanding of r1 values

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly variable RNA virus existing as seven different serotypes. The antigenic variability between and within serotypes can limit the cross-reactivity and therefore the in vivo cross-protection of vaccines. Selection of appropriate…

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An Illumina approach to MHC typing of Atlantic salmon

The IPD-MHC Database represents the official repository for non-human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) sequences, overseen and supported by the Comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee, providing access to curated MHC data and associated analysis tools. IPD-MHC gathers…

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Genetic diversity and population structure of Culex modestus across Europe: does recent appearance in the United Kingdom reveal a tendency for geographical spread?

In mainland Europe, the mosquito species Culex modestus Ficalbi (1890) is a bridge vector for West Nile virus (WNV) from its natural bird-mosquito cycle to mammals. The present study assessed the genetic diversity of Cx. modestus, as well as related Culex species, using the…

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African swine fever epidemiology and control

African swine fever is a devastating disease that can result in death in almost all infected pigs. The continuing spread of African swine fever from Africa to Europe and recently to the high-pig production countries of China and others in Southeast Asia threatens global pork…

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Application of HDR-CRISPR/Cas9 and erythrocyte binding for rapid generation of recombinant turkey herpesvirus-vectored avian influenza virus vaccines

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are highly contagious and have caused huge economical loss to the poultry industry. AIV vaccines remain one of the most effective methods of controlling this disease. Turkey herpesvirus (HVT) is a commonly used live attenuated vaccine against…

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Glutaminolysis and glycolysis are essential for optimal replication of Marek's disease virus

Viruses may hijack glycolysis, glutaminolysis or fatty acid β-oxidation of host cells to provide energy and macromolecules required for efficient viral replication. Marek's disease virus (MDV) causes a deadly lymphoproliferative disease in chickens and modulates metabolism…

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Morbilliviruses: Entry, Exit and Everything In-Between

Morbilliviruses are important pathogens, to the point that they have shaped the history of human and animal health.