Large DNA Viruses
Lead Research Organisation:
The Pirbright Institute
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The veterinary megavirales research group aims to examine the molecular interactions between these highly specialised viruses and the host, and apply the resultant discoveries to novel diagnostic, treatment and prevention strategies. The megavirales are large DNA viruses which replicate almost exclusively in the cytoplasm. They include two genera with substantial veterinary impact – the Asfarviridae and Capripoxviridae. African swine fever virus is the sole species in the asfarviridae genus. It causes a rapidly fatal disease in domestic pigs and is currently spreading from the Caucasus westwards through Europe. There is no vaccine currently available, and as such this virus represents a clear danger to the pig industry of Europe. The capripoxvirus genus includes three species of poxvirus – Sheeppox virus, Goatpox virus and Lumpy skin disease virus. These poxviruses affect ruminants and cause of substantial loss to subsistence farmers in Africa and south east and central Asia. The most serious threat to the UK is Lumpy skin disease virus which, over the past decade, has steadily spread through the Middle East to Turkey and entered Europe for the first time in 2015. It has since continued to spread through Greece and Bulgaria, and into Macedonia.
To facilitate development of better diagnostic tools and vaccines against the viruses the Megavirales research group at Pirbright will (i) Sequence and compare the genomes of a panel of capripoxvirus strains to identify genes which determine host specificity and virulence. The role of the proteins encoded by the genes will then be determined. (ii) Use high throughput screening techniques to identify host proteins which strongly influence Megavirales replication, and investigate their mechanisms of function. (iii) Study the innate immune response to virus infection, with emphasis on uncovering how the viruses are detected by the host. These fundamental studies will shed light on this remarkable group of viruses and aid the development of more effective means of disease detection and control.
To facilitate development of better diagnostic tools and vaccines against the viruses the Megavirales research group at Pirbright will (i) Sequence and compare the genomes of a panel of capripoxvirus strains to identify genes which determine host specificity and virulence. The role of the proteins encoded by the genes will then be determined. (ii) Use high throughput screening techniques to identify host proteins which strongly influence Megavirales replication, and investigate their mechanisms of function. (iii) Study the innate immune response to virus infection, with emphasis on uncovering how the viruses are detected by the host. These fundamental studies will shed light on this remarkable group of viruses and aid the development of more effective means of disease detection and control.
Planned Impact
unavailable
People |
ORCID iD |
| Philippa Beard (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Adedeji AJ
(2021)
Household and animal factors associated with sheeppox and goatpox sero-prevalence and identification of high-risk areas in selected States of northern Nigeria.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Beard PM
(2016)
Lumpy skin disease: a direct threat to Europe.
in The Veterinary record
Dunn LEM
(2020)
Identification of a Functional Small Noncoding RNA of African Swine Fever Virus.
in Journal of virology
Fay PC
(2020)
Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells are a suitable cell line for the propagation and study of the bovine poxvirus lumpy skin disease virus.
in Journal of virological methods
Flannery J
(2022)
A novel strain of lumpy skin disease virus causes clinical disease in cattle in Hong Kong.
in Transboundary and emerging diseases
Horigan V
(2018)
Assessing the probability of introduction and transmission of Lumpy skin disease virus within the United Kingdom
in Microbial Risk Analysis
Kiplagat SK
(2020)
Risk Factors for Outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease and the Economic Impact in Cattle Farms of Nakuru County, Kenya.
in Frontiers in veterinary science
Limon G
(2020)
Epidemiological Characteristics and Economic Impact of Lumpy Skin Disease, Sheeppox and Goatpox Among Subsistence Farmers in Northeast Nigeria.
in Frontiers in veterinary science
Rawlins ME
(2022)
Financial impact of sheeppox and goatpox and estimated profitability of vaccination for subsistence farmers in selected northern states of Nigeria.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Sanz-Bernardo B
(2020)
Lumpy Skin Disease Is Characterized by Severe Multifocal Dermatitis With Necrotizing Fibrinoid Vasculitis Following Experimental Infection.
in Veterinary pathology
| Description | This Large DNA Virus award (BBS/E/I/00002087) was led by Dr Pip Beard, a new Group Leader at The Pirbright Institute, and facilitated the setting up of a new research group focused on large DNA viruses affecting veterinary livestock. The award was particularly timely given the emergence of LSD into Europe in August 2015, and enabled Pirbright to remain at the forefront of research into capripoxvirus disease and contribute to the successful control of the LSD epidemic in eastern Europe by 2018. The award focused on building a strong base of validated tools and techniques and using them to carry out high quality fundamental research into the capripoxvirus genus of poxviruses, and to extend these findings to the related dsDNA virus African swine fever virus (ASFV). The new information gathered has been and will continue to be used to underpin development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines against these high consequence veterinary viruses. The most significant achievements were the further funding secured using preliminary data from this award, and the new collaborations formed. Further funding of over £6 million was secured on the preliminary work from this project and includes: BBSRC Responsive Mode IPA project BB/R002606/1 "Vector-borne transmission of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus". This project is a collaboration between Pirbright scientists and industrial partner Merck Animal Health and will examine the spread of Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) by insects. BBSRC Responsive Mode project BB/R008833/1 "Design and development of improved Capripoxvirus vaccines". This project will use preliminary data from BBS/E/I/00002087 "Large DNA Viruses" to develop improved live attenuated vaccines to prevent cattle from LSDV. H2020 project "Addressing the dual emerging threats of African Swine Fever and Lumpy Skin Disease in Europe (DEFEND)". This is a €5.6million 5 year project with 33 consortium partners from 21 countries, due to start in June 2018. The project is led by Dr Pip Beard at The Pirbright Institute and aims to control the growing LSD and ASF epidemics in Europe and neighbouring countries by understanding the drivers of LSDV and ASFV emergence, by generating novel diagnostic tools and vaccines, and by authenticating appropriate and rapid responses by decision-makers. Two PhD studentships have been awarded to further research into lumpy skin disease. One is funded by the Pirbright Institute in collaboration with the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI ), and the second is an iCASE studentship through the Oxford Interdisciplinary Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme. Both studentships will run from 2018-2022. New collaborations have been formed to increase the impact of the research. Industry partners include Merck Animal Health, Zoetis, and ID-VET who provide financial and in-kind support to the BBSRC and H2020 funded research led by Dr Beard, and will undertake to implement the research findings into new diagnostic and vaccine tools with which to control capripoxvirus disease. Strong links with researchers and decision makers in countries in eastern Europe affected by the LSD epidemic have been formed and will underpin development of better management policies to control disease spread. New partnerships have been formed with researchers in Mongolia and Nigeria where capripoxvirus disease is endemic and contributes to sustaining rural poverty. Further funding from the BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account and GCRF schemes have enabled collaborative research projects to be set up with colleagues at the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Mongolia and Bauchi State Veterinary Services in Nigeria. These projects will examine the strains of CPPV present in these areas, estimate the economic cost of capripoxvirus disease in these areas, and trial prototype serological diagnostic tests in partnership with ID-VET. The Large DNA Virus award (BBS/E/I/00002087) has therefore enabled the establishment of a vibrant, securely-funded and centrally positioned research group into large DNA viruses, with a world-leading position in capripoxvirus research, particularly the rapidly emerging cattle pathogen lumpy skin disease virus. |
| Exploitation Route | As described above, one of the most significant achievements from the award was to facilitate the formation of key collaborations with industry, academic and government partner, and underpin a number of successful further funding bids. The findings will be taken forward in these future funding projects, and within the 2017-2022 Pirbright Host and Virus ISP programmes |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | The main impact of the project was through knowledge transfer during the 2015-2018 lumpy skin disease epidemic in Europe. Information about LSD was provided to national and international bodies by Dr Beard through academic publications, lay press articles, online articles, webinars, seminars, and through expert advice provided to policy making bodies. This contributed to evidence-based control programmes being put in place in south-east Europe, resulting in the spread of LSD into the European cattle population being halted. This has resulted in substantial economic benefits to the cattle industry and rural communities in eastern and central Europe in particular. It is a textbook example of how Pirbright responds in a timely fashion to threats from viral pathogens of livestock. The knowledge gained during this award continues to be exploited through advice to Defra on the threat posed by lumpy skin disease to the UK, and means to mitigate this threat. The project also underpinned the development of the Large DNA Virus group at The Pirbright Institute from 2017 - present. The group is now one of the largest research teams focusing on capripoxvirus diseases of livestock, with its activities funded by, to date, three response-mode funded BBSRC projects and the H2020 Research and Innovation Action DEFEND. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Briefing document for OIE |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | Expert advice on a LSD vaccination strategy for the UK |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Expert advice on a Lumpy skin disease vaccine bank for the UK |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | OIE and FAO Lumpy Skin Disease Regional Meeting for Asia and the Pacific |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode IPA |
| Amount | £302,086 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R002606/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode funding |
| Amount | £595,574 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R008833/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | BBSRC responsive mode funding |
| Amount | £356,484 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T005173/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | BBSRC-funded Oxford Doctoral Training Partnership in vivo skills award |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and University of Oxford joint Doctoral Training Project |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | GALVmed funding for LSD |
| Amount | € 846,516 (EUR) |
| Organisation | GALVmed |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 11/2018 |
| Description | H2020 work programme topic 9 Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy, work topic SFS-10-2017 Research and approaches for emerging diseases in plants and terrestrial livestock |
| Amount | € 5,986,250 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | Pirbright Institute PhD studentship |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | The Pirbright Institute Flexible Talent Mobility Account Innovation Fellowship |
| Amount | £19,636 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | Collaboration with Bauchi State Veterinary Services, Nigeria |
| Organisation | Bauchi State University |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided expertise on sheeppox, goatpox and lumpy skin disease virus diagnosis and epidemiology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators in Bauchi State have provided virus samples and epidemiological data |
| Impact | Preliminary data was used to support successful funding via a BBSRC Impact Accelerator Award, and a Pathways to Impact project in BBSRC project BB/R008833/1 "Development of rationally designed live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccines" |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with State Central Veterinary Laboratory, Mongolia |
| Organisation | State Central Veterinary Laboratory |
| Country | Mongolia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We provided tools, techniques and expertise on sheeppox and goatpox |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our colleagues provided data and field samples |
| Impact | A workshop was held in Pirbright in March 2017, and a return workshop in Ulaanbaatar in July 2017. Preliminary data supported successful grant applications for an Impact Accelerator Award, and a Pathways to Impact project in BB/R008833/1 "Development of rationally designed live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccines". |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Emergence newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I wrote an article for the online newsletter eMergence. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.emergence-msd-animal-health.com/NewsletterArticle.aspx?NL=9&Article=2 |
| Description | European Animal Health and Welfare Research Collaborative Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was an invited expert speaker at a meeting (16-17Nov16) of the European Animal Health and Welfare Research Collaborative Working Group, which is a forum for European collaboration on animal health & welfare research prioritisation & procurement. I presented expert information and advice on lumpy skin disease (LSD). The intended purpose was to provide information so that policymakers can co-ordinate and best prioritise animal health and welfare research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | European Medicines Agency Workshop on LSD |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I attended the European Medicines Agency Workshop on Lumpy Skin Disease (31Jan17) as an invited expert speaker. The workshop included policymakers, industry representative, government representatives and European Commission representatives, and was focused on control measures for LSD used in Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | European Regional Workshop for Prevention and Control of LSD |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I attended the European Regional Workshop for Prevention and Control of lumpy skin disease (LSD) (11-12May16) as an invited expert on LSD. The workshop was sponsored by the European Commission and included the chief veterinary officers from many European nations. The purpose was to share expert knowledge about LSD with countries with or threatened by the disease, in order to help them construct effective LSD control programmes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Expert advice for European Partners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I provided expert advice which included a formal presentation at a workshop sponsored by the European Commission on "Strengthening regional cooperation in South East Europe and Middle East for prevention and control of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)". This was a key forum which promoted co-operation of affected countries in the face of the LSD epidemic, and helped formulate the response of the region to the virus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2016.EN-1059/epdf |
| Description | Expert contributor to online lumpy skin disease prepardness course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | EuFMD virtual learning course aimed at increasing knowledge of lumpy skin disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LSD APHA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a seminar on lumpy skin disease to scientists at the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) at Weybridge. This resulted in further advice being given to APHA to help them determine the risk posed by LSDV and appropriate policy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | LSD vaccines IAEA workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I gave a seminar at the Regional Workshop on the Diagnosis and Control of lumpy skin disease, held in Vienna at the IAEA headquarters. My seminar was on LSD vaccines. As a result of the seminar I was able to assemble a consortium of scientists to work towards a proposal for a H2020 funding opportunity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lumpy Skin Disease D2R2 profile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Provided expert opinion to the assessment (D2R2) of the risk of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) to the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | Lumpy skin disease diagnosis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 20May16 I presented an expert seminar on lumpy skin disease diagnosis as part of a webinar sponsored Current Transboundary Animal Disease challenges in the Thrace and Balkan region:: expert advice on laboratory diagnosis and biosecurity. The target audience was representatives from national veterinary laboratories and contingency planners, focal points and consultants, as well as anybody involved in the applied diagnosis and control of transboundary animal diseases in the Balkan and Thrace countries and surrounding areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://fao.adobeconnect.com/p56ix750po2/ |
| Description | National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I wrote an article on lumpy skin disease for the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS), a website which promotes animal health and welfare through better disease control and prevention. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/lumpy-skin-disease.aspx |
| Description | OIE technical webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | • OIE technical webinar title "Virtual Awareness program on LSD". I gave an invited lecture on aetiology, epidemiology and diagnosis of LSD. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Television Interview Ulaanbaatar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I gave a television interview to Mongolian national television while attending a workshop in Ulaanbaatar. The interview was focused on the collaboration between the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar and The Pirbright Institute, particularly the work we are undertaking on sheeppox and goatpox. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Television interview Ulaanbaatar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by UB television while on a collaborative visit to the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Mongolia. I spoke about the collaboration between The Pirbright Institute and the SCVL, and how this benefits the Mongolian agricultural sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |