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IBDV infected cell (red), tubulin (green) and the nucleus (blue)

Pirbright scientists show how infectious bursal disease viruses may swap genetic material during infection

Live cell imaging has been used by researchers at The Pirbright Institute to reveal new information about how different strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) might swap genetic material, a process that could lead to new strains with the potential for causing more…

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The First African Swine Fever Viruses Detected in Wild Boar in Hong Kong, 2021-2023

This study represents the first report on the detection and whole-genome sequencing of African swine fever (ASF) viruses in wild boar in Hong Kong in 2021-2023. Wild boar samples collected via an ASF surveillance program by the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation…

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Immunogenicity of Matrix Protein 2 Ectodomain (M2e) Displayed on Nodavirus-like Particles as Avian Influenza Vaccine for Poultry

Avian influenza is an economically significant disease affecting poultry worldwide and is caused by influenza A viruses that can range from low to highly pathogenic strains. These viruses primarily target the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems of birds, leading to…

Bluetongue virus (BTV) cores

Pirbright determines bluetongue strain and origin in 2016 Cyprus outbreak

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have used genetic analysis and wind modelling to show that the 2016 bluetongue outbreak in Cyprus was caused by bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8). The virus most likely crossed over to Cyprus in midges blown from the coastal regions of…

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Pathophysiology of penetrating captive-bolt stunning of horses

There has been limited research into the effectiveness of penetrating captive bolt (PCB) for stunning horses (Equus caballus) at slaughter. This study observed 100 horses at a commercial abattoir in Mexico, stunned using pneumatic PCB. Animals were assessed at the time of…

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Harnessing the highly adaptable barnase-barstar system for genetic biocontrol of Aedes aegypti

Toxin-antidote pairs can be used in gene drive systems, providing powerful means to modify mosquito populations. Here we use the toxin-antidote pair, barnase and barstar, originally identified in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, due to their high binding affinity, small size and…

Scientists working on pig and poultry diseases visit Pirbright

On 15 January 2020 The Pirbright Institute hosted Newton Fund Swine and Poultry Research Initiative delegates from the UK, China, Thailand and the Philippines. The projects funded through the initiative have been underway for almost two years and the meeting served as part…

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Mapping cross-reactive residues in the G-H loop of foot-and-mouth disease virus: insights for serotype-specific design

Introduction: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has a hypervariable G-H loop region within the VP1 capsid protein. This structure is associated with virus neutralisation and contains the virus attachment motif (RGD) which binds to the cellular integrin receptor…

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ITAF45 is a pervasive trans-acting factor for picornavirus Type II IRES elements

Viruses have evolved elaborate mechanisms to hijack the host mRNA translation machinery to direct viral protein synthesis. Picornaviruses, whose RNA genome lacks a cap structure, inhibit cap-dependent mRNA translation, and utilize an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in…

Rinderpest destruction, what happens next?

In June 2019 The Pirbright Institute destroyed the last samples of rinderpest virus held in the World Reference Laboratory for rinderpest. This completed a major milestone in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United…