Host Responses to Viral Infection: A fundamental understanding of immune response
Lead Research Organisation:
THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE
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
This project will link host viral restriction factors with early innate immune responses leading to a deeper understanding of how the adaptive and potentially protective immune response develops.
Working with strategic partners we will deploy genome-wide loss-of-function phenotypic screens to identify intrinsic host restriction factors. We will perform targeted experiments using cattle, pig, chicken, and mosquito cells to identify host mechanisms of sensing and responding to viral infection. For example, Aedes aegypti genome CRISPR screens will identify novel anti- and pro-viral factors. We will then apply proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to characterise the subsequent vector response to arboviral infection. Integrating these datasets by machine learning methods will identify pathways that influence the vector tropism of arboviruses. We will examine host expressed restriction factors that bind viral RNAs and impede replication. Flaviviruses will provide a model to delineate the impact of deregulation of IFIT1 in RNA-binding antiviral activity. Inclusion bodies (IBs) are emerging as critical sites for interactions between viruses and innate immunity cofactors. We will use bovine respiratory syncytial virus as a model to understand the mechanisms by which host cell factors are sequestered by viral IBs and their consequences on cellular process and more broadly to disease pathogenesis.
We will use systems approaches to link the impact of innate immunity to disease outcome. For example, we will use attenuated foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV) as tools to identify the quantitative and qualitative components of the immune response that prevents disease and drives protective responses. Transcriptomic signatures of epithelial and immune cells from the tonsils of infected sheep and pigs will be investigated by single cell RNA-seq. This will be complemented by fluorescence immunohistology and spatial transcriptomics of the infected tissue, producing integrated data from molecular signatures of immune induction and their cellular location to the development of a protective response. We will deploy our established CRISPR/Cas9-based in situ editing pipeline of Marek’s disease virus-transformed cell lines to examine the role that specific chicken genes play in neoplastic transformation. In collaboration with University of Surrey, existing datasets will be integrated with new data to drive AI approaches to support a systems understanding of Immune responses and oncogenesis.
We will dissect the protective elements within adaptive immune responses. We will ablate candidate molecules to manipulate the survival and proliferation of influenza A virus (IAV)-specific porcine lung resident memory T (TRM) cells in primary epithelial cell and lung organ cultures. In parallel, we will define changes in the respiratory tract milieu following IAV infection that may influence TRM cell survival. There are profound differences between the adaptive immune systems of newly hatched and older chickens. We will investigate the immune responses to vaccination with different antigens and subsequent IAV challenge of chicks and chickens. We will explore the diversity of antigen-specific T and B cells and combine this with broad immunological analyses to inform the optimisation of IAV vaccination strategies. We will better understand the mechanisms that prevent the induction of effective neutralising antibody responses to porcine respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by interrogation of lymphoid tissues; combining phenotypic and functional analyses of B cells, T follicular helper and regulatory cells, with single cell and spatial transcriptomics to evaluate how germinal centre responses evolve during PRRSV infection. In collaboration with BI, these studies will be complemented with comparative work using a related murine arterivirus.
Working with strategic partners we will deploy genome-wide loss-of-function phenotypic screens to identify intrinsic host restriction factors. We will perform targeted experiments using cattle, pig, chicken, and mosquito cells to identify host mechanisms of sensing and responding to viral infection. For example, Aedes aegypti genome CRISPR screens will identify novel anti- and pro-viral factors. We will then apply proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to characterise the subsequent vector response to arboviral infection. Integrating these datasets by machine learning methods will identify pathways that influence the vector tropism of arboviruses. We will examine host expressed restriction factors that bind viral RNAs and impede replication. Flaviviruses will provide a model to delineate the impact of deregulation of IFIT1 in RNA-binding antiviral activity. Inclusion bodies (IBs) are emerging as critical sites for interactions between viruses and innate immunity cofactors. We will use bovine respiratory syncytial virus as a model to understand the mechanisms by which host cell factors are sequestered by viral IBs and their consequences on cellular process and more broadly to disease pathogenesis.
We will use systems approaches to link the impact of innate immunity to disease outcome. For example, we will use attenuated foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV) as tools to identify the quantitative and qualitative components of the immune response that prevents disease and drives protective responses. Transcriptomic signatures of epithelial and immune cells from the tonsils of infected sheep and pigs will be investigated by single cell RNA-seq. This will be complemented by fluorescence immunohistology and spatial transcriptomics of the infected tissue, producing integrated data from molecular signatures of immune induction and their cellular location to the development of a protective response. We will deploy our established CRISPR/Cas9-based in situ editing pipeline of Marek’s disease virus-transformed cell lines to examine the role that specific chicken genes play in neoplastic transformation. In collaboration with University of Surrey, existing datasets will be integrated with new data to drive AI approaches to support a systems understanding of Immune responses and oncogenesis.
We will dissect the protective elements within adaptive immune responses. We will ablate candidate molecules to manipulate the survival and proliferation of influenza A virus (IAV)-specific porcine lung resident memory T (TRM) cells in primary epithelial cell and lung organ cultures. In parallel, we will define changes in the respiratory tract milieu following IAV infection that may influence TRM cell survival. There are profound differences between the adaptive immune systems of newly hatched and older chickens. We will investigate the immune responses to vaccination with different antigens and subsequent IAV challenge of chicks and chickens. We will explore the diversity of antigen-specific T and B cells and combine this with broad immunological analyses to inform the optimisation of IAV vaccination strategies. We will better understand the mechanisms that prevent the induction of effective neutralising antibody responses to porcine respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by interrogation of lymphoid tissues; combining phenotypic and functional analyses of B cells, T follicular helper and regulatory cells, with single cell and spatial transcriptomics to evaluate how germinal centre responses evolve during PRRSV infection. In collaboration with BI, these studies will be complemented with comparative work using a related murine arterivirus.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BATH (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN (Collaboration)
- KEELE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) (Collaboration)
- Penn State University (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Kenyan Institute for Medical Research (KEMRI) (Collaboration)
- Air Liquide (Collaboration)
- Universidade de São Paulo (Collaboration)
- Royal Veterinary College (RVC) (Collaboration)
- JOHN INNES CENTRE (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- University of Sussex (Collaboration)
- UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY (Collaboration)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Collaboration)
- Charles University (Collaboration)
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (Collaboration)
- Verily Life Sciences LLC (Collaboration)
- OPEN UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Diamond Light Source (Collaboration)
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Collaboration)
- ProImmune (Collaboration)
- Agricultural Research Council (ARC) (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Hasanuddin University (Collaboration)
- University of Southampton (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE (Collaboration)
- Zoetis (Collaboration)
- University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SURREY (Collaboration)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- BABRAHAM INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
Publications
Adeyemi O
(2024)
Microbiological Assessment and Evaluation of Virus Yield in Germ-free Chicken Eggs
in The Open Microbiology Journal
Al-Dalawi L
(2025)
Research note: Use of in vitro and in ovo approaches to characterise avian influenza viruses and assess species specific responses to infection.
in Poultry science
Ashley EC
(2025)
Attenuated but not virulent pseudorabies virus activates porcine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells.
in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
Biasetti L
(2024)
Risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease increase SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of endothelial cells and pericytes.
in Open biology
Billington E
(2025)
Investigating factors driving shifts in subtype dominance within H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses.
in The Journal of general virology
Bin Aslam H
(2024)
Financial impact of low pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 on commercial broiler chicken and egg layer production systems in Pakistan.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Bodman-Harris O
(2024)
Approaches to Enhance the Potency of Vaccines in Chickens.
in Vaccines
Brown H
(2025)
Transcription factor expression for identifying B cell subsets in cattle by flow cytometry.
in Developmental and comparative immunology
| Title | Cellular responses in UK pigs that survive infection with African swine fever virus isolate Estonia 2014 |
| Description | Poster presented at the European Veterinary Immunology Workshop 2024 |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/poster/Cellular_responses_in_UK_pigs_that_survive_infection_with_Afric... |
| Title | Lymphoid organ derived cultures to study ASFV-host interactions |
| Description | Poster presented at the British Society for Immunology Comparative and Veterinary Immunology Affinity Group (BSI-CVIG) meeting "Pioneering organoids and 3D cell cultures for animal and human health" |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/poster/Lymphoid_organ_derived_cultures_to_study_ASFV-host_interactions... |
| Description | 1. High resolution dissection of cellular responses to respiratory infections in pigs: Single cell and spatial transcriptomics analyses have been performed, in conjunction with high parameter flow cytometry, to better understand immune responses of pigs to respiratory virus infections. Collaboration with other BBSRC institutes has enabled the development of bioinformatic pipelines for single-cell transcriptomics as a resource for the broader livestock research community. Cell atlases provide deep insights into the spatial and functional organisation of immune and barrier tissues and are instrumental in understanding host responses to infection or vaccination. 2. A systems approach to study Marek's disease virus (MDV) tumorigenesis in chickens: MDV induces tumours in chickens. Longer term ISP strategic funding allowed us to make continued progress towards understanding the complex pathways involved in MDV-induced oncogenesis. In collaboration with the Roslin Institute, a genetic screen was performed on MDV-transformed cells and host genes were identified as being essential for maintaining the transformed phenotype. Gene pathway analysis showed a significant mitochondrial signature, and inhibitors showed that mitochondrial function is critical for the continued proliferation of transformed cells. 3. Understanding the immunological challenges to inducing neutralising antibody responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV): Pigs fail to mount an effective neutralising antibody response to PRRSV infection. To better understand the dysregulated B-cell response to PRRSV infection, we conducted an analysis of the germinal centre (GC) response in mice infected with a closely related arterivirus, lactate dehydrogenase elevating virus. Infection was associated with a marked and sustained increase in the follicular helper T (Tfh) cells compared to follicular regulatory T cells. But this response was dominated by Tfh cells with reduced activation markers required for both GC retention and interaction with B-cells, suggesting suboptimal GC responses. 4. Induction and maintenance of immunological memory against influenza in the respiratory tract: We established the first method for labelling of dividing cells in living pigs by using heavy water. Labelling rates of tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) in the airways closely matched those from lymph nodes and blood. These findings suggest that TRM originate from cells dividing at similar rates to memory-phenotype cells in blood or lymph nodes. 5. New tools to study B cell and antibody responses in ruminants at high resolution: We have established a multicolour flow cytometry panel to identify, phenotype and quantify antigen-specific B cells from infected/vaccinated sheep. Alongside validated sequencing pipelines for antibody repertoire analysis, we now have all the tools needed to undertake high-resolution B cell response phenotyping and antibody isolation. We also developed novel tools to study functional B cell subsets in cattle, using cross-reactive antibodies against lineage-defining transcription factors. These methods are now being applied to understand the differences between bluetongue virus vaccines and their protection confer and to track FMDV-specific B cells in blood and lymph nodes. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. In livestock species, cell atlases are still in their infancy; our work addresses this gap by generating reference datasets for respiratory and lymphoid tissues. 2. The identified genes serve as potential targets for engineering MD resistant chickens. 3. Understanding what drives this response and its contribution to the failure of the immune system to effectively control arterivirus infection should provide insights to design more effective PRRSV vaccines. 4. These data highlight the dynamic nature of immunological memory in the lung and has implications for harnessing immune responses against respiratory pathogens. 5. These tools can be used to understand immune responses to infection/vaccination in ruminants and to isolate monoclonal antibodies from these species to guid vaccine design. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | Work on the research questions in this topic has strengthened the UK's industrial capacity by co-developing novel reagents for work on immune responses in livestock and mosquito vectors in partnership with industrial partner ProImmune, who has already begun to sell the products we collaborated on developing. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Defining Zika R&D Research Priorities and Integrated Mosquito-borne Arbovirus Strategy meeting |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Imperial College London (Masters-level training) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The students will be better prepared for how to prepare and respond to outbreaks of tropical vector-borne diseases, which is highly relevant as many students on the course were from disease-endemic countries. |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk |
| Description | Imperial College London (masters course training) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Educating the next generation of virus host interaction researchers |
| Description | Imperial College London (masters course training) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Maters students will graduate with enhanced knowledge of virus-host interactions that will impact their future decision making |
| Description | Imperial Masters student training |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Imperial Masters student training (2026) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | OmicsLearning coordinator |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | We have a series of regular courses spanning bioinformatics, genomics, biostatistics, related application areas such as flow cytometry analysis, bioimage analysis and data management (collectively known as "OmicsLearning"). For example, in the 12 months April 2023 to March 2024, we ran 20 OmicsLearning courses (Introduction to R twice, Introduction to Unix twice, Introduction to Python, Using R Packages, Using Python Packages, Data Visualisation, Read Library QC, Genome Assembly, Read Mapping, Mutation Detection, Transcriptomics, Phylogenomics, Bioimage Analysis, Antibody Diversity, Describing Statistical Data, Hypothesis Testing, Probability, Linear Models). These were attended by 72 people, who attended an average of 2.25 courses each. Many participants have integrated bioinformatic and computational approaches into their work as a result, with resulting output seen in research reports, papers, grant applications and the capacity to analyse high-throughput data themselves. The OmicsLearning courses help achieve the BBSRC Institute Strategy goal of "strengthening capability and specialist training of the UK bioscience workforce, from early career researchers, through to technical specialists and research leaders". Of four staff members awarded OmicsLearning awards in 2023, two have gone on to pursue PhDs involving computational analyses, and the other two have moved into roles linked to bioinformatics, one of which was a Career Development Fellowship. In survey response, 55% of respondents say they use what they learned in these courses "often" or "all the time"; 88% say they have used what they learned in the courses; and 50% say they have used these new skills during searches for a new role internally or externally. |
| Description | Oxford Medical Students training |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Oxford medical students training (2026) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | University of Oxford (Medical students training) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Medical students in the UK may encounter tropical diseases in patients returning from overseas travel. In this lecture they gained an insight into the disease caused by dengue virus and how people can protect themselves when they travel overseas, allowing them to better care for patients when they enter the clinic. |
| URL | https://www.ox.ac.uk |
| Description | WHO and UKHSA led collaborative research consortium (CORC) on OROV - session chair and participant |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | The initial meeting has already led to changes in practices on the basis of what was discussed and new collaborations formed. One example would be the standardisation of diagnostic methods with a direct impact on public well-being and effectiveness of public service delivery. |
| Description | WHO led effort to prioritize diseases of epidemic and pandemic threat - member of Paramyxovirus expert group |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Zika pandemic preparedness ten-year plan consultation (Wellcome Trust/WHO) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Advancing research and innovation in non-animal technologies for veterinary science |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2025 |
| End | 10/2026 |
| Description | Application of molecular xenomonitoring in a lateral flow test format for multiplexed monitoring of vector-borne viruses and their animal reservoirs and insect vectors in low-income settings |
| Amount | £49,015 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA2149 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | China UK One Health research for epidemic preparedness and AMR initiative |
| Amount | £900,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y015061/1 |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | Development of Serological Tests to Differentiate Between Animals Infected with and Vaccinated Against Avian Influenza |
| Amount | £498,534 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | APP45652 |
| Organisation | Zoetis |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2026 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Description | Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) - Tropical Infectious Disease Consortium: Expanding and Accelerating Product Development |
| Amount | £54,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA2148 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) - Tropical Infectious Disease Consortium: Expanding and Accelerating Product Development |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA21109 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 02/2026 |
| Description | MRC Impact Accelerator Accounts (Tropical Infectious Disease Consortium: Expanding and Accelerating Product Development) |
| Amount | £53,362 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA2148 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Description | Multilateral UK-USA-France Partnership in Genetic Engineering of Disease Vectors |
| Amount | £17,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | New technologies for African swine fever vaccines |
| Amount | £352,340 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UKRI Reference Number: 10091291 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2027 |
| Description | Predicting cross-protection of African swine fever virus (ASFV) vaccines against diverse genotypes circulating in Africa |
| Amount | £40,238 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA2182 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 01/2025 |
| Description | The role of perivascular cell dysfunction in hepatic complications of dengue haemorrhagic fever |
| Amount | £589,017 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/X009203/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | Travel Grant |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Microbiology Society |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | US-UK-China Collab-Understanding the Impact of Poultry Vaccination on H5Nx Avian Influenza Virus Evolution and Ecosystem Dynamics |
| Amount | £3,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | APP18977: 3291 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 10/2029 |
| Title | 12-colour flow cytometry staining the for the phenotyping of porcine B cells |
| Description | This novel flow cytometry staining panel for porcine B cells allows in depth characterization of porcine B cells both after ex vivo analysis and in vitro stimulation. It allows the simultaneous analysis of plasma cells, plasmablasts, germinal centre B cells, B1 and B2 B cells and extrafollicular effector cells. It can be combined with BCR-binding probes to identify the specificity of particular B cell clones. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This panel will serve as a highly valuable tool for the assessment of the B cell response in porcine lymph node transwell cultures, thereby allowing conclusions on the fidelity of the in vitro system compared to the in vivo response. |
| Title | 13-colour flow cytometry staining panel for the phenotyping of porcine T cells |
| Description | This newly established panel allows a detailed assessment of the functional differentiation of CD4 and CD8 T cells, including the identification of regulatory T cells, Th1 and T follicular helper cells as well as the formation of CD4 and CD8 memory T cells. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This panel will serve as a highly valuable tool for the assessment of the T cell response in porcine lymph node transwell cultures, thereby allowing conclusions on the fidelity of the in vitro system compared to the in vivo response. |
| Title | 8 color flow cytometry panel for cattle B cell phenotyping |
| Description | Flow cytometry panel to characterize different B cell subsets in cattle. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Following the publication of this method, we have been contacted to provide reagents and expertise for cattle B cell phenotyping in the context of diseases, and to host a researcher form a LMIC for training in flow cytometry. |
| Title | CRISPR knockout cell line of NF-kB |
| Description | An Aedes aegypti mosquito cell line lacking the NF-kB transcription factor Rel2, therefore being defective in a particular arm of the immune response. |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These tools were used to validate ankyrons (antibody-like detection reagents) for studying mosquito NF-kB, developed and sold by the company ProImmune. |
| Title | Development of single cell data isolation pipeline for single cell omics |
| Description | This work presents scpImaging, a novel computational pipeline that repurposes the latent microscopy data routinely generated during cellenONE-based sample preparation to provide deterministic quality control (QC) and high-content phenotypic profiling. We demonstrate that standard proteomic quality metrics for SCP (e.g., peptide count, signal intensity) paradoxically favour retaining doublets. In contrast, scpImaging applies machine-learning-based cell segmentation (Cellpose-SAM) to identify and exclude these artefacts with high precision. Furthermore, the framework integrates morphological metrics generated using the open-source CellProfiler, with proteomic abundance data, enabling joint analysis that links cell shape and texture to molecular cell state. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Impact will depend on uptake but expected will be a resource for labs worldwide, all code available open access on preprint |
| URL | https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.01.691577v1 |
| Title | Methods to characterize cattle antibodies Fc-mediated functions |
| Description | A suite of assays have been developed to analyse the effector functions of cattle Ig subtypes. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This suite of methods is now being applied to FMDV-specific antibodies, and will allow to better understand the role of non neutralizing antibodies. |
| Title | Methods to sequence cattle antibodies at different throughputs |
| Description | A suite of methods to isolate cattle B cells, amplify and sequence cattle antibody heavy and light chains, and to analyse antibody repertoires. Workflow has been adapted for low (Sanger), medium (NGS), and high (10X genomics platform) throughput. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Following the publication of these methods, we have been contacted by several research groups (University of Sao Paulo, Glasgow, ILRI institute) for collaborations on antibody repertoire analysis. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061099 |
| Title | Methods to sequence chicken antibodies at different throughputs |
| Description | A suite of methods to isolate chicken B cells, and to sequence antibodies at low, medium (NGS), and high (10X platform) throughputs. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These methods have been used to sequence IBV-specific antibodies (expression ongoing), and will be used for IBDV-specific antibodies discovery (in collaboration with ANSES, France). We were contacted by a research group in Munich (Germany) to develop partnership on chicken B cell and antibody characterization (SH). |
| Title | Methods to sequence pig antibodies at different throughputs |
| Description | A suite of methods to sort pig B cells, and to amplify, sequence and characterize pig antibodies. Sequencing has been adapted for low (Sanger), and medium (NGS) throughput, and is being optimized for high throughput (10X genomics platform). |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The primers initially used were published, and have been optimized since. They are available on demand until next publication. We have been contacted to assist in the analysis of antibody repertoire of ASFV infected warthog (AL, ILRI, Kenya), and ASFV infected pigs (AS, IVI, Switzerland). |
| Title | Bayesian networks for multi-variate analysis of mid-size biological datasets. |
| Description | Elucidation of interactions in cohort datasets via the use of Bayesian networks. These include a number of innovations in improving interpretability by clinician and biologists, who are not experts in statistical modeling. Currently expanding the code base and looking at applications within research in livestock health, such as scRNA-seq experiments of the pig immune system. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Development of explainable AI models of a variety of cancers, that lead to better understanding of the interactions of driver events in cancer. |
| URL | https://stoics.org.uk/~nicos/sware/gbn/ |
| Title | Bio_db a collection of biological, high quality databases within logic programming. |
| Description | Provides a convenient method for importing a large number of high quality biological databases to the logic programming environment of SWI-Prolog. These include protein-protein interactions database STRING, many EMBL and NCBI genomic information databases. Initially these were across human with later additions on mouse. During the past year, and due to the livestock focus in the institute, we have added information for chicken and pig. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Allows easier data analytics of biological datasets within the classical AI paradigm of logic programming. The databases, in effect, create a large graph of knowledge, which in addition to be useful in analytics, are also an interesting environment for experimenting with large graph algorithms. |
| URL | https://stoics.org.uk/~nicos/sware/bio_db/ |
| Title | Data from: An antigen panel to assess the regional relevance of foot and mouth disease vaccines |
| Description | Despite widespread use of inactivated vaccines to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), there is no systematic approach to demonstrate the regional relevance of these products against the specific serotypes and strains that circulate in endemic countries in Africa and Asia. Failure to adopt independent testing of FMD vaccines has contributed to poor trust in their quality and a lack of investment in vaccination programmes. Therefore, a reference antigen panel representing four serotypes, tailored for East Africa, has been established and used to measure FMDV-specific antibody responses in cattle after administration of FMD vaccines commercially available in the region. This revealed inconsistencies and gaps in cross-neutralisation responses that are evident for some vaccines even after giving booster doses. It is concluded that the East Africa reference antigen panel can be used to evaluate FMD vaccine potency and drive up vaccine quality. Further panels could be developed and deployed for other endemic regions. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://datadryad.org/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.z8w9ghxnj |
| Title | Tfh cells in influenza vaccinated and immunised pigs |
| Description | Tfh cells were quantified in tracheobronchial lymph nodes of pigs following experimental infection with influenza or novel vaccine candidates. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Tfh cells were increased in immunised pigs, demonstrating capacity of vaccine approach. |
| Description | 1000 Aedes Genomes Project |
| Organisation | Hasanuddin University |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided intellectual input and access to field sites for the sequencing of mosquito genomes from natural populations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners provided expertise, intellectual input, resources, and training for the collection of mosquito samples and whole genome sequencing, assembly and annotation. |
| Impact | Genome sequences from mosquito populations. Output DOIs: 10.1186/s13071-024-06158-z 10.1101/2023.11.21.568070 10.1002/ece3.71009 10.1126/science.ads3732 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | 1000 Aedes Genomes Project |
| Organisation | Verily Life Sciences LLC |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We provided intellectual input and access to field sites for the sequencing of mosquito genomes from natural populations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners provided expertise, intellectual input, resources, and training for the collection of mosquito samples and whole genome sequencing, assembly and annotation. |
| Impact | Genome sequences from mosquito populations. Output DOIs: 10.1186/s13071-024-06158-z 10.1101/2023.11.21.568070 10.1002/ece3.71009 10.1126/science.ads3732 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Balancing immunity and inflammation in porcine lung |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | High dimensional phenotyping of immune cells in BAL of influenza infected pigs; analysis of lymph nodes and lung tissue by immunofluorescence histology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Advice and teaching on immunofluorescence histology |
| Impact | Identification of a reduction of regulatory T cells in pigs immunized with IL-1beta encoding vector as an vaccine adjuvants. Training and advice provided by colleagues from the Babraham Institute allowed establishments of novel staining protocols which formed an important basis for a first spatial transcriptomics experiment with porcine lymph nodes. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CA24133 - European network for animal evolutionary immunology: interlinking laboratory and wildlife infection biology (EVIM-NET) |
| Organisation | Charles University |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am part of the Management Committee, Core Group and lead Working Group 1 (Evolutionary Genomics) of this Cost Action. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This COST Action currently involves >150 people from >40 European countries. It involves organising meetings, training schools, workshops, and short-term scientific missions, as well as managing a social media and traditional media presence throughout the action. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary, encompassing several different fields: Immunology Genetics Genomics Ecology Evolutionary Biology |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Cambridge |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research on epitope display systems and use of functional genetic screens. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research on epitope display systems and use of functional genetic screens. |
| Impact | Collaborative research on epitope display systems and use of functional genetic screens. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with ANSES (France) on pig antibody repertoire analysis |
| Organisation | French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We hosted a PhD Student (VH) to train them in porcine antibody repertoire analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise on Aujesky disease. |
| Impact | Transfer of knowledge, techniques, and bioinformatic tools. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with ARC (South Africa) on flow cytometry phenotyping of cattle B cells |
| Organisation | Agricultural Research Council (ARC) |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We hosted a scientist form ARC (TN) to train them in flow cytometry of cattle B cell phenotyping. |
| Collaborator Contribution | None |
| Impact | Transfer of reagents, knowledge and expertise to a LMIC. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Aberdeen on cattle B cell phenotyping |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting an intern (HB) on the development of protocols to phenotype cattle B cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | None |
| Impact | A set of antibodies raised in other species validated for cattle B cell phenotyping |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr. James Nyagwange at KEMRI |
| Organisation | Kenyan Institute for Medical Research (KEMRI) |
| Department | KEMRI CGMRC Programme |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Discussions regarding serological evidence for infection of Kenya population with coronaviruses. We have provided reagents. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Discussions regarding serological evidence for infection of Kenya population with coronaviruses. They have provided access to samples and assays. |
| Impact | Publication on SARS2 prevalence and neutralisation of variants was published already: 2. Evaluation of population immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants, EG.5.1, FY.4, BA.2.86, JN.1, JN.1.4, and KP.3.1.1 using samples from two health demographic surveillance systems in Kenya. Lugano D, Kutima B, Kimani M, Sigilai A, Gitonga J, Karani A, Akech D, Karia B, Ziraba AK, Maina A, Lambisia A, Omuoyo D, Mugo D, Lucinde R, Owuor S, Konyino G, Newman J, Bailey D, Nduati E, Githinji G, Agoti CN, Bejon P, Scott JAG, Agweyu A, Kagucia W, Warimwe GM, Sande C, Ochola-Oyier LI, Nyagwange J. BMC Infect Dis. 2024 Dec 28;24(1):1474. doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-10367-3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39732637/ |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with ILRI (Kenya) on warthog antibody repertoire post ASFV infection |
| Organisation | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Transfer of protocols and expertise to AL, to analyse the antibody response of Warthog infected with African Swine Fever virus. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise on African Swine Fever infection outcomes in Warthogs. |
| Impact | Transfer of knowledge, protocols and expertise to a LMIC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with John Innes Center (UK) on BTV VLP production |
| Organisation | John Innes Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | None yet. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborators at the JIC (GL group) are producing Bluetongue virus-like particles (in-king contribution) for us to analyse the B cell response post BTV vaccination in cattle. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with KCL (UK) on antibody competition for SARS-CoV2 epitope binding |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Capability to analyse the avidity of a set of antibodies (from KCL) for a range of SARS-CoV2 variants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A set of human SARS-CoV2-specific antibodies covering 8 immunodominant epitopes to be tested by competition ELISA with SARS-CoV2-specific antibodies generated in pigs vaccinated with SARS-CoV2ChAdOx vaccine. |
| Impact | Known avidity of a set of SARS-CoV2-specific antibodies against a range of SARS-CoV2 variants (in-kind contribution). |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with PSU (USA) and APHA (UK) on bTB antibody response |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Optimisation of protocols to analyse the B cell response to a range of m. bovis antigens. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided antigens (GJ; VK), and cells (GJ) for assays optimisation, both as in-kind contributions. |
| Impact | A new ELISpot protocol for bTB-specific memory B cell quantification. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with PSU (USA) and APHA (UK) on bTB antibody response |
| Organisation | Penn State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Optimisation of protocols to analyse the B cell response to a range of m. bovis antigens. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided antigens (GJ; VK), and cells (GJ) for assays optimisation, both as in-kind contributions. |
| Impact | A new ELISpot protocol for bTB-specific memory B cell quantification. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Rachel Ireland at DSTL |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Providing expertise, reagents and advice on coronavirus and arenavirus biology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing expertise, reagents and advice on high containment laboratory research |
| Impact | No outcomes as yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Sao Paulo University (Brasil) on cattle antibody repertoire post tick infestation |
| Organisation | Universidade de São Paulo |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Understanding of the cattle B cell response post tick infestation. Providing protocols and expertise to IS, prof. at Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, on analysis of the Cattle B cell repertoire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise on Tick-cattle interactions, and tick biology. |
| Impact | Transfer of protocols and knowledge to a LMIC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with Sophia Antipolis University (France) |
| Organisation | University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting a student (TF) to train them in bioinformatics and genomics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | None. |
| Impact | Transfer of knowledge in bioinformatics. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Stephen Findlay Wilson at UKHSA |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Department | Public Health England Porton Down |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration on Nipah virus research helping to establish CL4 animal models for this virus. We have provided vaccines and biological assays and expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of expertise at CL4 with high risk pathogens |
| Impact | Establishment of assays to examine pathogenesis at CL4 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Bath (UK) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training of an intern on cattle antibody characterization. |
| Collaborator Contribution | none. |
| Impact | Understanding of antibody functions in cattle. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Durham and The Babraham Institute on cattle B cell development and antibody repertoire generation |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting a student (NKO) to study the development of B cells and the antibody repertoire generation and diversification in cattle. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge on B cell development and expertise on techniques to analyse antibody repertoires in human and mouse. Time of Babraham scientists was provided as in-kind contribution. |
| Impact | Optimized protocol for cattle antibody repertoire sequencing using PacBio platform. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Durham and The Babraham Institute on cattle B cell development and antibody repertoire generation |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting a student (NKO) to study the development of B cells and the antibody repertoire generation and diversification in cattle. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge on B cell development and expertise on techniques to analyse antibody repertoires in human and mouse. Time of Babraham scientists was provided as in-kind contribution. |
| Impact | Optimized protocol for cattle antibody repertoire sequencing using PacBio platform. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Liverpool, LSTM and UKHSA on OROV vector competence |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training staff in containment level 3, undertaking insect infections in CL3 with OROV, project management |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided and maintained insect lines at Pirbright, helped optimise assays, project management |
| Impact | Further engagement with stakeholders in Central and South America and colleagues in Europe, WHO, CDC and ECDC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Liverpool, LSTM and UKHSA on OROV vector competence |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training staff in containment level 3, undertaking insect infections in CL3 with OROV, project management |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided and maintained insect lines at Pirbright, helped optimise assays, project management |
| Impact | Further engagement with stakeholders in Central and South America and colleagues in Europe, WHO, CDC and ECDC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Liverpool, LSTM and UKHSA on OROV vector competence |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training staff in containment level 3, undertaking insect infections in CL3 with OROV, project management |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided and maintained insect lines at Pirbright, helped optimise assays, project management |
| Impact | Further engagement with stakeholders in Central and South America and colleagues in Europe, WHO, CDC and ECDC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with UoS (UK) on bovine antibody heavy and light chains pairing |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided over 42K pairs of cattle antibody heavy and light natural pairs to UoS (NG, AO). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Modeling of cattle antibody heavy and light natural pairs from bulk antibody repertoires. Overheads have been waved from computational scientist contribution. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Construction of Bayesian networks from GenePy matrices. |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | Southampton Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Machine learning of Bayesian Networks for IBD matrices inscribing GenePy scores. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sharing of their IBD and control datasets which are construed of GenePy matrices, which provide mutational load of genes and regions. Interpretation of the constructed networks. |
| Impact | (discipline Medicine) Improved understanding of mutational burden patterns in the pathogenesis of IBD. (discipline Artificial Intelligence) Communication clues and visual annotation of explainable structured statistical models (Bayesian Networks) for biomedical data. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Development of Serological Tests to Differentiate Between Animals Infected with and Vaccinated Against Avian Influenza |
| Organisation | Zoetis |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The avian influenza and Newcastle disease group at The Pirbright Institute will lead and deliver all laboratory components of this collaboration. Our team will apply its extensive expertise in avian influenza virology, reverse genetics, serology, and assay development to design, optimise, and validate DIVA-compatible ELISA platforms targeting HA, NA, and NP antibody responses. We will generate and characterise genetically defined avian Influenza H5Nx HA, NA, and NP antigens, develop subtype-specific and competitive ELISAs, and perform rigorous validation using well-defined vaccinated and infected poultry samples. Through these contributions, the team will ensure the assays are scientifically robust, scalable, and suitable for adoption in national and international AIV surveillance and control programmes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner will provide in-kind support by supplying well-characterised experimental chicken antisera generated following vaccination with their H5N2 avian influenza vaccine. These vaccine-matched sera will be used to validate the DIVA-compatible ELISA assays developed at The Pirbright Institute, enabling robust assessment of assay specificity, sensitivity, and performance as companion diagnostics. This contribution ensures industrial relevance and supports future regulatory acceptance and field deployment of DIVA-enabled vaccination and surveillance strategies. |
| Impact | This collaboration is scheduled to commence in April 2026 and is currently in the initiation phase; therefore, no outputs or outcomes have yet resulted from the partnership. The collaboration is multidisciplinary, bringing together expertise in avian influenza virology, immunology, reverse genetics, serology and diagnostic assay development, poultry vaccinology, and disease surveillance. These complementary disciplines will be integrated to develop and validate DIVA-compatible serological assays to support avian influenza vaccination and control strategies. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Evaluation of Adjuvants for Enhanced Vaccine Efficacy in Avian Influenza Control. |
| Organisation | Air Liquide |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The avian influenza and Newcastle disease group at The Pirbright Institute will provide scientific leadership and experimental coordination for this collaboration. Our team will oversee study design, vaccine antigen selection, immunisation schedules, sampling strategy, and data interpretation to ensure the robust evaluation of adjuvant performance. We will coordinate and provide technical guidance for all experimental activities conducted at Grand Pharma, ensuring alignment with international standards and study objectives. In partnership, SEPPIC will fully fund the project and supply the adjuvants, enabling systematic assessment of their capacity to enhance immune responses to H5 avian influenza vaccines under field-relevant conditions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEPPIC (subsidiary of Air Liquid) is supporting this collaboration through direct financial and in-kind contributions. The in-kind support includes technical expertise to assist in the formulation of H5 avian influenza vaccines for poultry, including guidance on the optimal use of MONTANIDEâ„¢ adjuvants. These contributions enable the systematic evaluation of adjuvant performance and ensure the scientific and practical relevance of the study under field conditions. |
| Impact | The project is ongoing, and final outputs are yet to be produced. Preliminary results indicate promising trends in adjuvant performance, with MONTANIDEâ„¢ ISA 78 VG showing slightly stronger enhancement of vaccine-induced immune responses compared to MONTANIDEâ„¢ ISA 71 VG, while MONTANIDEâ„¢ GEL P PR showed relatively lower responses. These early observations will guide the selection of optimal adjuvants to improve the efficacy of H5 avian influenza vaccines under field conditions. This collaboration is multidisciplinary, combining expertise in avian influenza virology, poultry immunology, veterinary vaccinology, adjuvant formulation science, field-based animal experimentation, and immunological assay development and analysis. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Evaluation of RNA vector delivery of PRRSV glycoproteins |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV immunology and vaccine research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Construction and formulation of an RNA vectored PRRSV vaccine candidate. |
| Impact | Work in progress. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Exploiting mosquito immunity for generating refractory mosquitoes |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I brought my expertise in mosquito immunology and viral evasion of innate immune responses in vertebrates and invertebrates. I provided intellectual input into the project and provided training for three research assistants and one undergraduate placement student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner (Luke Alphey, The Pirbright Institute) brought their expertise in mosquito transgenesis and molecular approaches to developing refractory mosquitoes that cannot transmit viruses. The partner also provided intellectual input into the project. |
| Impact | The following publications are associated with this collaboration: DOI: 10.3390/v13112116 |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | FLU-Trailmap: Transmission and risk of avian influenza: learning more to advance preparedness |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This project brought together eight leading scientific organizations in the UK to develop strategies for mitigating bird flu. Its main objective is to devise tools that bridge significant knowledge gaps concerning the virus's prevalence in wild birds and the factors leading to its emergence in poultry. We are exploring molecular determinants potentially related to changes in virus virulence, antigenicity, cross-species transmission, and the capacity to infect humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners provided field samples and sequence data of viruses isolated from disease outbreaks. This data was used to identify molecular determinants linked to virus phenotype changes. |
| Impact | At the frontline, ethnographic surveys were designed and implemented to understand farmers perceptions of farm biosecurity. Studies highlighted the need for an improved understanding of key biosecurity risk points and the implementation of effective biosecurity practices. Outputs showed that high quality facilities and management systems can be undermined by weaknesses in procedural compliance. As such, targeted farm worker education could help mitigate against future incursions which will be addressed in the follow-on research programme, FLUTRAILMAP. Recent work indicates that farm-to-farm spread is rare and that the virus is not spread long distances as an aerosol. Linked to biosecurity, virulence for poultry and the potential role of airborne spread of the virus was evaluated. Active sampling on infected premises across different hosts supported the experimental evaluation of pathogenesis and transmission (FLUMAP: Pathogenesis) by demonstrating that this virus is not spread long distances by the aerosol route (FLUMAP: Aerosol). Further, studies demonstrated that different bird species represent different risk levels for excretion of infectious material and potential transmission routes (FLUMAP: Gannets; FLUMAP: Environment; Pheasants). Ultimately, experimental, field and genetic data supported a lack of aerosol spread between premises. In support of this, genetic analysis of over 800 full bird flu virus genomes demonstrated that farm-to-farm spread was very rare with independent incursions from wild birds driving infection in poultry (FLUMAP: Genetics; Phylodynamics). Several genetic characteristics were identified that expanded our knowledge, explaining the explosive success of the current H5N1 bird flu viruses to spread fast and infect a greater range of bird species including a shift of infection dynamics to affect seabirds (FLUMAP: Infection dynamics) and via long distance and transatlantic spread (Transatlantic). These traits have contributed to the current H5N1 viruses having increased fitness across multiple species. Contemporary H5N1 viruses have enhanced fitness to infect, transmit and persist in birds, but remain of low risk to humans (FLUMAP: Characterization; Human Case). This project has defined a role for multiple virus genes which have switched and evolved over time to act together in a highly efficient manner. To better understand key species that may tolerate infection with this virus in the absence of clinical disease, sampling of hunter harvested wild birds was undertaken. Virus positive birds were detected in a small subset of Teal, Wigeon, and Pink-Footed Geese although carcasses were not available to evaluate the distribution of virus in these birds (Healthy birds). Further assessment of different avian species using this approach are planned. Gannet populations around the UK have been severely impacted by High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI), at Bass Rock the number of occupied nest sites decreased by over 70%. Linked to the detection of the virus in apparently healthy birds, interrogating survival from infection, and in particular the role of antibodies in birds that may have been infected, but survived infection was a key interest (FLUMAP: Gannets). FLUMAP has enabled the development of a suite of laboratory tools that will enable us to dissect the immune response in birds that may have been exposed to multiple and different influenza viruses in their lifetime. Tools are now available to dissect antibody responses to each of the two different viral surface proteins (both individually and in tandem). How these two different viral coat proteins interact with each other and what optimal protein combinations mean with respect to stability of interaction has also been assessed. These tools will enable a better understanding of how different key surface proteins drive immune responses and what that means where viruses emerge containing different coat proteins. The periodic switching of the neuraminidase (NA) protein (i.e., N8 to N1) is an important factor in influencing the emergence of new strains and the tools developed in FLUMAP will enable the impact of these genetic reassortment events to be assessed. Whilst further outputs are realised from the FLUMAP project, the follow-on project, FLUTRAILMAP, will enable the application of these data to this continually emerging global situation and will enable better prevention and mitigation approaches to be defined. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | High dimensional phenotypic analysis of porcine lymphocytes in health and disease |
| Organisation | University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna |
| Department | Department of Pathobiology |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Establishment of high dimensional flow cytometry staining panel to identify antigen specific T cells in porcine blood, provision of sample material (PBMC collections of influenza infected pigs) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prepared and analyzed flow cytometry samples |
| Impact | Generated data deepened our understanding of immune cell composition in different anatomic locations of pigs in the context of influenza infection. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Imperial - Johnston |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Faculty of Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration on human rhinovirus experimental vaccines Co-Investigator on MRC project grant |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on human rhinovirus experimental vaccines Co-Investigator on MRC project grant |
| Impact | MRC project grant |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Mosquito reagent development |
| Organisation | ProImmune |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise and intellectual input into the identification and validation of targets to develop ankyrons as novel tools for molecular studies in mosquitoes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise, intellectual input and facilities for the production of ankyrons against mosquito proteins. |
| Impact | Ankyrons were developed that have been made available to the research community to facilitate research into mosquito molecular biology with the aim of preventing the spread and emergence of mosquito-borne diseases. These reagents are available for purchase through the company website (www.proimmune.com) and are published in DOI: 10.1101/2025.11.06.687020. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | New tools to study LDV |
| Organisation | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided recombinant monoclonal antibodies specific to LDV |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided recombinant reporter LDV and genetic tools to engineer an LDV susceptible cell line |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | OXFORD BBSRC-NERC Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences Landscape Award (ILESLA) |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project Co-Lead on Oxford ILESLA doctoral training programme funded by BBSRC-NERC. Co wrote the funding application. Act as theme lead for animal and human health. Part of management committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co manage programme. Deliver training. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- funded by BBSRC and NERC |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | OXFORD BBSRC-NERC Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences Landscape Award (ILESLA) |
| Organisation | Open University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project Co-Lead on Oxford ILESLA doctoral training programme funded by BBSRC-NERC. Co wrote the funding application. Act as theme lead for animal and human health. Part of management committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co manage programme. Deliver training. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- funded by BBSRC and NERC |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | OXFORD BBSRC-NERC Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences Landscape Award (ILESLA) |
| Organisation | Oxford Brookes University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project Co-Lead on Oxford ILESLA doctoral training programme funded by BBSRC-NERC. Co wrote the funding application. Act as theme lead for animal and human health. Part of management committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co manage programme. Deliver training. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- funded by BBSRC and NERC |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | OXFORD BBSRC-NERC Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences Landscape Award (ILESLA) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project Co-Lead on Oxford ILESLA doctoral training programme funded by BBSRC-NERC. Co wrote the funding application. Act as theme lead for animal and human health. Part of management committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co manage programme. Deliver training. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- funded by BBSRC and NERC |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | OXFORD BBSRC-NERC Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences Landscape Award (ILESLA) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project Co-Lead on Oxford ILESLA doctoral training programme funded by BBSRC-NERC. Co wrote the funding application. Act as theme lead for animal and human health. Part of management committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co manage programme. Deliver training. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- funded by BBSRC and NERC |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Placement Studentship: Production and characterisation of nanobodies recognising avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus surface glycoproteins using phage display technology |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Studentship allocated to Roddy Brookes producing and characterising llama nanobodies which recognise avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus surface glycoproteins, using our established methods of phage display technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervisory contributions, expertise and research guidance for undergraduate placement, attributed to the Bachelor of Science award. |
| Impact | On-going. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Population genetics of myeloma |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Division of Immunology and Inflammation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Statistical analysis and machine learning on large publicly available datasets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expert knowledge of myeloma biology and bioinformatics management and first phase analytics of the datasets. |
| Impact | There are currently no published outputs. There are 3 disciplines involved: medicine (biology of Myeloma, Prof Karadimitris) AI (machine learning, Dr Angelopoulos) and bioinformatics (data management and standard analyses, Dr Huang, bioinformatician with Prof Karadimitris). |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Precision cut tissue slices to study early immune responses and viral replication |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Department | Pathobiology and Population Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Precision cut tissue slices (PCTS) from porcine lymph nodes and tonsils are prepared with support from the collaborators at RVC, transported to Pirbright and infected with either African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) or foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborators at the RVC provide the infrastructure to prepare PCTS and provide training on the tissue slicing process. |
| Impact | Aim of the project is to establish methodology and workflow to infect cells types permissive for these viruses and measure the innate immune response in the local tissue microenvironment. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Surrey DTP Studentship: Pathogens and Host Defences Doctoral Training Partnership |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Studentship allocated to Oenone Bodman-Harris defining immune potentiating mechanism of vaccines targeting antigens to chicken immune cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervisory contributions, expertise and research guidance for PhD award. |
| Impact | On-going |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | The Chicken Genomic Diversity Consortium |
| Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I co-lead the CGDC together with Laurent Frantz of LMU Munich. This has involved curating a dataset of >5000 chicken genomes from a diverse range of backgrounds around the world. The CGDC is involved in a number of collaborative projects investigating chicken genetic diversity, adaptation and evolution. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Laurent Frantz has played a crucial role in establishing the consortium. Other partners from many different (primarily) European institutions are members of the consortium and have either provided data and/or are contributing analyses. |
| Impact | Publication describing the consortium as part of the 4th report on chicken genomes: https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/322728875/Fiddaman.pdf This project is multi-disciplinary, and includes practitioners from: Genetics Genomics Immunology Evolutionary Biology Parasitology Virology |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Tim Harvey-Samuel |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Lead project exploiting insect transgenesis to study vector host interaction |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide expert guidance on insect transgenesis |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary- combines molecular virology with insect transgenesis |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | TrailMap-One Health |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b is panzootic in birds. Its widespread geographical distribution, sheer numbers of infections and frequent incursions in mammals indicate it to be a virus with pandemic potential. We are working as a consortium to achieve a coordinated in-depth risk assessment of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses particularly zoonotic potential of the current clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborating partners are jointly providing data and samples necessary for evaluating the threat posed by H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) to human health. This effort aims to understand the risks, potential spillover routes into humans, the virus's capacity to adapt for human transmission, and the probable severity of human infections should they occur. We will meet these objectives through three interconnected work packages: (1) assessing the infection likelihood in non-human mammals that could serve as bridging species, (2) evaluating the risk of direct or adapted virus spillover infections in humans, and (3) examining the potential for Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses to become transmissible among humans. |
| Impact | The work is currently in its initial stages, with anticipated outcomes expected by the end of this current year, 2024/2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Landscape Award |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Department | Brighton and Sussex Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | TD is co-lead from the Pirbright Institute in this multi-partner award led by the University of Surrey. Nicolas Locker is the official lead from the Pirbright Institute. Yvonne Walsh from the Pirbright Institute provides academic and student support. The Pirbright Communications teams assist with advertisements and communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This BBSRC-funded doctoral programme will train students in interdisciplinary approaches to Infection Biosciences across all classes of pathogens, to combat existing and future disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity. Wessex One Health (WOH) brings together the expertise of our three university partners and four major UK institutes with national capability for working on high consequence pathogens, to provide a broad training and research experience for students, with the following highlights: -Cross-institutional supervisory teams -Opportunities to train at high containment -Cohort training in genomics, bioinformatics, applied AI -Cohort-building activities across all partners -Opportunities for studentships working with industry (CASE) -Wide range of short industrial placement opportunities. The Partners -University of Surrey (Guildford) -University of Sussex, Including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) -University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology -The Pirbright Institute (Woking, Surrey) -Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Weybridge, Surrey), -UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (Porton Down, Wiltshire or Colindale, London) -Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) (Porton Down, Wiltshire) |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: -Design of 20 collaborative PhD projects between the Pirbright Institute with the partners (APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex). -Closer links between the Pirbright Insitute and the APHA, DSTL, UKHSA, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, University of Sussex in terms of building the DLA, planning training and discussing facilities (such as containment). The awards runs 2025-2033. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Title | Vaccine |
| Description | The present invention relates to a genetically engineered protein comprising: at least one binding domain which is capable of binding to a cell surface protein on an avian antigen presenting cell; and a) at least one antigenic polypeptide orb) at least one binding domain which is capable of binding to at least one antigenic polypeptide. The present invention also relates to avian vaccines comprising at least one binding domain which is capable of binding to a cell surface protein on an avian antigen presenting cell; and a) at least one antigenic polypeptide or b) at least one binding domain which is capable of binding to at least one antigenic polypeptide and to the use of such vaccines to treat and/or prevent disease in avian subjects. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2025 |
| Licensed | No |
| Title | Panalyze |
| Description | Panalyze can make and analyse pangenome variation graphs (PVGs). This was mainly designed with virus genomes in mind. It takes in a FASTA file of related sequences and constructs a PVG from them using PGGB. It visualises the PVG using VG and ODGI, and summarises it numerically using GFAtools and ODGI. It calculates PVG openness using Panacus, Pangrowth and ODGI's heaps function. It gets the sample genome sizes and allocates them into communities (ie, groups) based on similarity. It identifies mutations in the form of VCFs using GFAutil and gets presence-absence variants (PAVs). It has a range of optional functions, like downloading a query to create the input FASTA, and using the BUSCO database to quantify the numbers of genes in the samples of interest. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | It will be useful when analysing viral genomes |
| URL | https://github.com/downingtim/Panalyze |
| Description | A cross-reactive neutralising epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Abigail Hay presented a talk at the 14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium; 11-14 August 2025; Vienna, Austria. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Avian Influenza Evolution: Impact on Virulence, Vaccines and Diagnostics. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a keynote talk at the International Seminar 2024 "Poultry Health Challenges in Pakistan on 21 November 2024 at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Avian Influenza Vaccines Research at Pirbright |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a presentation to key research grant funders and stakeholders in the UK, including BBSRC and DEFRA, associated with animal welfare, disease control, and the research goals and achievements performed at the Pirbright Institute. The topics focused on (i) understanding the genetic and antigenic evolution of avian influenza viruses, (ii) drivers of zoonotic potential, (iii) improvement of poultry vaccine potency, (iv) investigating molecular markers of antigenic variants, (v) improving avian influenza detection and diagnostic approaches, e.g. lateral flow devices and (vi) development of novel vaccine candidates to improve protective efficacy including vector- and multivalent-based vaccines and targeted delivery of antigens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Avian Influenza Viruses: Potential Threats and Disease Mitigation Strategies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a talk (as an invited keynote speaker) at the 8th Scientific Conference on Transboundary Animal Diseases on 10 October 2024, Tunis, Tunesia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Avian Influenza and One Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented Talk at the Infectious Diseases seminar for senior medical practitioners on 25 September 2024, at the Gordon Museum of Pathology, Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Avian Influenza: Global Situation & Control Strategies |
| 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 | Presented a talk as an invited speaker at the International Symposium on Poultry Health Challenges in Pakistan. Organized by the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA-Pakistan Branch) at Serena Hotel Faisalabad, Pakistan. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Bunya2024 conference Poster presentation: "Decoding differential activity of native and recombinant type I interferons against Rift Valley fever virus infection." |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the Bunya2024 conference in Leeds. One outcome of this conference was a satellite meeting on Oropouche virus and the establishment of several international OROV interest groups, one led by Pirbright. Further, funding was subsequently secured. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Challenges and Innovations in Avian Influenza Vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented Avian Pathology Lecture at the 6th WVPA Asia Meeting, 17-18 October 2024, Manila, Philippines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Co-organised relaunch event for South East Virus Network (SEVN) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Together with APHA co-organised on Pirbright's behalf a small programme of talks from Pirbright ECRs showcasing their work. The audience was made up of virologists and other microbiologists from across the SE of the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Developing Novel Multivalent Vaccines for Poultry Viral Diseases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal present talk Presented at the Oxford University Human and Veterinary Vaccinology Course on 30th October 2024, Pirbright, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Developing novel multivalent vaccines for poultry viral diseases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk at the Oxford University training Course on Human & Veterinary Vaccinology, UK. This talk was directed to students at the University of Oxford to teach and describe the research and challenges to overcome to enhance the efficacy of poultry-based vaccines performed at the Pirbright Institute. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Emergence and Fitness of H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses Currently Infecting Poultry, Wild Birds, Mammals, and Humans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a talk at the International Pandemic Sciences Conference, 1-2 July 2024, Oxford, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Engagement with poultry stakeholders (farmers and veterinarians at "Morocco Poultry Day"). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk was presented to poultry stakeholders including farmers describing the new emerging technologies that increase the efficacy of poultry vaccines, in particular vaccines against Avian influenzas and Newcastel disease virus,.The meetings was attended over 80 participates. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Enhancing the Potency of Poultry Vaccines by Selectively Targeting Antigens to Chicken Antigen-Presenting Cells |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk as an invited speaker at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. Our research on our newly developed targeted-delivery vaccine platform addresses these challenges by improving: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, and (6) overcome maternally derived antibodies. This platform therefore (1) enhances the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduces production losses, (3) improves cost-effectiveness, (4) improves productivity and economy, (5) improves animal welfare, and (6) reduces prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). Additionally, collaborations with industrial partners can integrate this research to adapt to new antigenic variants and/or hosts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Enhancing the potency of poultry vaccines and overcoming maternally derived antibody interference |
| 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 | Presented a talk as keynote speaker at the GARAD-2023 conference at Harbour Hotel Guildford, UK. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. Our research on our newly developed targeted-delivery vaccine platform addresses these challenges by improving: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, and (6) overcome maternally derived antibodies. This ensures early vaccination is possible and this vaccine platform can aid control of avian influenza in early poultry populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Enhancing the potency of poultry vaccines by targeted delivery of antigens to chicken antigen-presenting cells |
| 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 | Presented a talk as an invited speaker at the 12th Asian Pacific Poultry Conference (APPC2023) at Nanjing, China. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. Our research on our newly developed targeted-delivery vaccine platform addresses these challenges by improving: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, and (6) overcome maternally derived antibodies. This platform therefore (1) enhances the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduces production losses, (3) improves cost-effectiveness, (4) improves productivity and economy, (5) improves animal welfare, and (6) reduces prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). Additionally, collaborations with industrial partners can integrate this research to adapt to new antigenic variants and/or hosts. This ensures early vaccination is possible and this vaccine platform can aid control of avian influenza in early poultry populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Evolutionary Dynamics of Avian Influenza (H5/H7/H9) in Asia and Its Risks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a talk at the 6th WVPA Asia Meeting, 17-18 October 2024, Manila, Philippines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://wvpa-asia2024.com/ |
| Description | Global epidemic trend of avian influenza virus and its harm to public health |
| 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 | Talk as an invited speaker at The 2023 China-ASEAN Seminar on Prevention and Control of Cross-border Animal Diseases, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, Guangxi, China. The persistence of avian influenza viruses in bird populations increases zoonotic and pandemic risks. Research focuses on reducing prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). To address this, topics discussed included research focuses in: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | H5Nx Clade 2.3.4.4b Avian Influenza Viruses: An Increasing Risk for Global Poultry, Livestock, and Humans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a talk at the WVPA Regional Conference for Africa and the Middle East 3-6 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HPAI Update: Global and Asian Situation and Control. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal Presented talk et "Let's Speak Poultry" (ASKAN), on 16 October 2024 in Manila, Philippines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Imperial College London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KM gave an invited seminar to a department of microbiology researchers at Imperial College London, including postgraduate students. The audience engaged with questions during the talk and a conference organiser grant was submitted due to this engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Improving Detection Sensitivity of Lateral Flow-Based Rapid Diagnosis of Emerging Avian Influenza H5Nx Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Munir Iqbal presented a talk at the International Pandemic Sciences Conference, 1-2 July 2024, Oxford, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Improving the efficacy of poultry vaccines |
| 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 | Presented a talk as an invited speaker at the International Conference: Current Trends, Prospects & Opportunities in Vaccine Research at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. Our research on our newly developed targeted-delivery vaccine platform addresses these challenges by improving: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, and (6) overcome maternally derived antibodies. This platform therefore (1) enhances the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduces production losses, (3) improves cost-effectiveness, (4) improves productivity and economy, (5) improves animal welfare, and (6) reduces prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). Additionally, collaborations with industrial partners can integrate this research to adapt to new antigenic variants and/or hosts. This ensures early vaccination is possible and this vaccine platform can aid control of avian influenza in early poultry populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interviews at a Ash Manor School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Interviews at a local school. I interviewed around 12 students, for factice job applications, and explained the job of a scientist and the mission of The Pirbright Institute to each of these students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited Seminar at Pandemic Sciences Institute Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited seminar about coronavirus spillover, prediction and understanding the generalism of some zoonotic pathogens. There were many questions afterwards and I polled the audience about their views and whether they had changed on the subject before and after the seminar. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited talk at "International Symposium on Immunology and Biotechnology 2023" at Seoul National University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on "CD4 T cells in pigs: phenotypes, functions, and the bigger picture", led to discussions immediately after the talk and while the symposium was still ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Mental Health First Aid and Mind - Time to talk day 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Offering students and staff the opportunity to talk with the aim of fostering mental health and culture at Pirbright. Information provided about who the mental health first aiders at the institute are and what their role is. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Microbiology Society Annual Conference (Birmingham) - Poster presentation: Juvenile Hormone Analogue Enhances Rift Valley fever virus Infectivity in Aedes aegypti Aag2 Cells. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at an international conference. The event included networking opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Microbiology Society Poster presentation "Decoding differential activity of native and recombinant type I interferons against Rift Valley fever virus infection" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the Annual Conference in Edinburgh. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Molecular Risk Assessment of Clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx Avian Influenza Viruses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | UK-China Avian Flu Control Workshop and Flu-Trail Map Workshop on 11 and 12 November 2024 at The Pirbright Institute, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Multiple talks at XXIInd World Veterinary Poultry Association Congress - WVPAC 2023, Verona, Italy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | three independent talks titled: (1) Selectively targeting antigens to chicken immune cells induces faster and very strong immunity in chicks with high levels of maternally derived antibodies, (2) The impact of avian influenza vaccination on zoonotic infections: lessons learned from the H7N9 avian influenza control, (3) Investigating molecular markers influences the haemagglutination activity of the H9N2 avian influenza viruses. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effective: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | One Health: Zoonosis and Their Control Through the Use of Vaccines |
| 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 | Presented a talk as an invited speaker at the conference entitled "National Dialogue on Agricultural Research" at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan. The persistence of avian influenza viruses in bird populations increases zoonotic and pandemic risks. Research focuses on reducing prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). To address this, topics discussed included research focuses in: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral and poster presentations at 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of 3 research projects on available tools for antibody discovery in livestock species, on FMDV cross-specific epitopes discovery, and analysis of B cell transcriptomics. Each of the presentations sparked, questions and interest on protocols, methodologies, tools and reagents. These discussions have already driven knowledge and reagents transfer to LMIC, and have initiated collaborative work with international research institutes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral presentation at 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project results presented to a highly interested and engaging audience of more than 200 scientists and students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral presentation at Oxford-Pirbright joint B cell meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation initiated interesting discussions and potential collaborations on multi-disciplinary approaches for antibody discovery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral presentation at Turing-Pirbright joint computational meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented our work on livestock antibody repertoire analyses and the bioinformatic tools we developed to understand kinetics of antibodies during immune responses, at the Turing Institute (London). This led to engaged discussions and questions about the methodology used. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organisation and attendance at UK-International Coronavirus Network conferences in Slovenia and Belfast |
| 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 | The UK-ICN runs networking meetings for coronavirus researchers. The Belfast meeting focused on animal coronaviruses and a GAP analyis in this area led by EU based teams at STAR-IDAZ. The Slovenia meeting was the AGM and had a satellite meeting on Big Data with support from CEFAS and Zoetis for both conferences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://uk-icn.co.uk/ |
| Description | Organisation of joint B cell meetings between the Pirbright Institute and Oxford University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organisation of bi-annual meetings between The Pirbright Institute and Oxford University. In average, about 75 scientists attended each meeting. Sponsors from Industry enable funding of meetings, and enhance technical discussions. These meetings drive engaging discussions across multi-disciplinary research groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Oropouche virus interest group |
| 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 established an Oropouche virus interest group with members from the Americas, the UK and mainland Europe to discuss priority areas for research and joint funding applications. The group meets online every three months. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Plenary talk at the 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Plenary talk on "Local adaptive immunity in pigs - getting the right balance?", reached about 200 researchers from across the globe. Several questions and debate immediately after the talk, ongoing conversations with delegates while conference was still running. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ivis2023.org/plenaries/ |
| Description | Poster presentation at the British Society of Immunology meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The poster presentation reached engaging scientists from human and mouse immunology field, which did not seem very aware of the importance and impact of veterinary immunology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at the European Veterinary Immunology Workshop in Dublin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A poster entitled 'In vitro lymph node cultures to monitor adaptive immune responses in pigs' was presented at the 8th European Veterinary Immunology Workshop. During the dedicated poster sessions, approximately 20 delegates discussed the presented results with NL and how the system could be used in their projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://eviw2024.org/ |
| Description | Poster presentation at the Vectorborne diseases in the UK meeting: "Decoding differential activity of native and recombinant type I interferons against Rift Valley fever virus infection." |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the Vectorborne diseases in the UK meeting in Liverpool. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation and panel discussion: Symposium "African Swine Fever Virus: An Emerging Global Challenge", held at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentations led to further discussions on the feasibility and safety of the use of live attenuated vaccines against African swine fever in different countries and epidemiological scenarios. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at RIVR: "Rift Valley fever virus genotype - phenotype relationships" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the annual RIVR (Recently independent virology researcher) meeting, which I am co-organising. This is to establish collaborations between recently appointed PIs and to foster career growth. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Selected oral presentation: Distinct effector functions mediated by Fc regions of bovine IgG subclasses and their interaction with Fc gamma receptors. 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium, Kruger National Park, South Africa |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ivis2023.org/ |
| Description | Presentation at the International PRRS Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of our PRRSV vaccine research, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation: "Identification and characterization of non-essential ASFV genes for the rational design of live attenuated vaccines" to visiting scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation led to further discussions on the use of live attenuated vaccines to control ASF. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Press release on predicting protection for mucosally-administered influenza vaccines |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release describing paper assessing protection from mucosally administered influenza vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/pig-research-paves-way-human-respiratory-vaccine-development |
| Description | Prevalence and Control of Avian Influenza Viruses in Poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented a seminar (as an invited speaker) to poultry stakeholders including farmers and veterinarians at "Morocco Poultry Day" organised by Boehringer-Ingelheim in Tangier, Morocco. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Preventing and controlling avian influenza infections in poultry and humans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Recombinant vaccines against avian viral diseases affecting poultry |
| 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 | Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effective: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | STEM for Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | KM was interviewed for the "Researcher Celebrities" video interview series on YouTube, run by STEM for Society. These videos are watched by an audience of a few hundred to a few thousand viewers from across the world. Shortly after posting the video there was already engagement in the comments section of the video. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/@stemforsociety |
| Description | Seminar presentation at CVR: "Decoding differential activity of native and recombinant type I interferons against Rift Valley fever virus infection." |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Seminar presentation at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Southern England Virology Network meeting (Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a science talk to researchers from research organisations (government and academia) in South England. The event also included networking activities. Future meetings have been organised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk on ASF subunit vaccines at 'Human and Veterinary Vaccinology' course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk on the challenges of developing vaccines against African swine fever virus as part of the Talk on ASF subunit vaccines at 'Human and Veterinary Vaccinology' course organised by the Jenner Institute |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk on Asfarvaridae at Virologie Fondamentale MSc course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of African swine fever virus to MSc students as part of the Pasteur Institute's virology course |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Pirbright Institute's Culture of care and 3Rs meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Gave a 25 minute talk on the project "Development of an in vitro system that mimics B and T helper cell responses in porcine lymph nodes" - discussion and questions afterwards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Translation UK 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Co-organised the Translation UK 2024 conference. Translation UK 2024 successfully brought together over 130 scientists examining protein synthesis and its regulation at the University of Surrey to share recent developments and breakthroughs through a series of talks, poster presentations and networking events. Scientists from the UK and abroad presented recently published and unpublished work of the highest quality. With a strong focus on providing opportunity for early career researchers to contribute, ECRs were selected to chair sessions and invited to attend a careers session. Translation UK 2024 showcased the strength, diversity and potential of the UK's mRNA translation research and provided a crucible for new and exciting collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.biochemistry.org/media/z4uhjhjq/translation-uk-2024-flyer.pdf |
| Description | Understanding Evolution and Impacts of Avian Influenza Viruses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Internal seminar presented at The Pirbright Institute, sharing the achievements and current ongoing research being performed within the Avian Influenza Virus and Newcastle Disease Virus Group to other colleagues throughout the site. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding Evolution and Persistence of Avian Influenza Viruses in Poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk at the LASA 60th Anniversary Conference, the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK, sharing the research goals and achievements performed at the Pirbright Institute. Poultry production continues to face several challenges caused by avian influenza, including: (1) virus evolution & antigenic diversity, (2) emergence of new virus variants, (3) co-circulation of multiple variants of same pathogen, (4) mixed infection of different viruses (immunosuppression), (5) maternally derived antibody interference, and (6) poor quality vaccines and sub-optimal vaccination practices. From these challenges, the topic of discussion and research drives optimal vaccination strategies to improve: (1) potency: a single dose to induce faster, stronger and durable immunity against multiple pathogens, (2) effectiveness: protect from clinical disease, reduced shedding and transmission, (3) affordability: cheap to produce and easy to deliver, (4) safety: no adverse impact to host or environment, (5) stability: retain efficacy for at least 1 year at indicated temperature, (6) DIVA: to allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. Implementing new emerging vaccine approaches can: (1) enhance the efficacy, duration, and breadth of immunity, (2) reduce production losses, (3) improve cost-effectiveness, (4) improve productivity and economy, (5) improve animal welfare, and (6) reduce prevalence of viruses and protect public health (reduced virus prevalence = reduced zoonosis). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Unique genomic linkage between the MHC class I and the leukocyte receptor complex in Yangochiropteran bats |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | John Schwartz presented a talk at the 14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium; 11-14 August 2025; Vienna, Austria. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |