BBSRC National Bioscience Research Infrastructure: Low Containment Services and Science Platforms
Lead Research Organisation:
THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The purpose of the Low Containment Services and Science Technology Platforms capability is to both support the High Containment Services and Science Technology Platforms (PIR-NBRI-1) and to provide dedicated facilities for low containment study of virus: host interactions. The NBRI includes five major pieces of infrastructure: The BBSRC National Vaccinology Centre: The Jenner Building two insectary facilities (The Philip Mellor Insectary and the IS4L facility) The Houghton Facility a poultry hatchery unit and The Biggs Building a low containment facility for infection of poultry. The Jenner building houses around 100 scientists in low containment laboratories and offices and includes those studying poultry viruses that are endemic in the UK (including low pathogenicity animal influenza viruses Marek’s disease virus and infectious bronchitis viruses) and scientists performing fundamental host-pathogen interaction studies including those developing genetically modified insect lines. Jenner also supports scientists who primarily work in high containment (under our PIR-NBRI-1 application) who require low containment space for some tasks and bioinformaticians. The other four infrastructures provide dedicated specialist services for production maintenance and infection of poultry and insects. The NBRI supports large and diverse teams of workers in engineering risk and assurance and animal services that rigorously maintain the highest standards in running of low containment facilities requiring highly specialised controlled temperature regimes and animal husbandry.
A range of science platforms are also maintained in Jenner as part of the NBRI. The Immunological Toolbox facility provides a diverse range of unique reagents and resources to promote veterinary immunology and vaccinology research both in the UK and globally. In addition bioimaging flow cytometry and bioinformatics services are provided that allow comparable data for studies carried out across containment levels and harmonisation in analysis and interpretation. Together these science platforms not only provide vital collaborative support during studies but also provide training to a wide range of users helping to sustain the UK’s excellence in bioscience.
A range of science platforms are also maintained in Jenner as part of the NBRI. The Immunological Toolbox facility provides a diverse range of unique reagents and resources to promote veterinary immunology and vaccinology research both in the UK and globally. In addition bioimaging flow cytometry and bioinformatics services are provided that allow comparable data for studies carried out across containment levels and harmonisation in analysis and interpretation. Together these science platforms not only provide vital collaborative support during studies but also provide training to a wide range of users helping to sustain the UK’s excellence in bioscience.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Castile-La Mancha (Collaboration)
- UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE (Collaboration)
- University of Tartu (Collaboration)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA (Collaboration)
- Washington State University (Collaboration)
- The Statens Serum Institute (SSI) (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- Royal Veterinary College (RVC) (Collaboration)
- Toscana Life Sciences Foundation (Collaboration)
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- Moy Park (Collaboration)
- University of Southampton (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- University of York (Collaboration)
- Verily Life Sciences LLC (Collaboration)
- ProImmune (Collaboration)
- Hasanuddin University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- University of Idaho (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- BABRAHAM INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Kansas State University (Collaboration)
- South China Agricultural University (Collaboration)
- LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX (Collaboration)
- University of Edinburgh (Collaboration)
Publications
Bayraktar E
(2024)
Molecular characterisation of fowl adenovirus associated with hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome in broiler and layer breeders in Azerbaijan.
in BMC veterinary research
Berryman S
(2025)
Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine quality: A universal test for intact viral capsids based on detection of VP4.
in Vaccine
Bilotti K
(2024)
One-pot Golden Gate Assembly of an avian infectious bronchitis virus reverse genetics system.
in PloS one
Cosme LV
(2024)
A genotyping array for the globally invasive vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus.
in Parasites & vectors
Dascalu S
(2024)
Immunisation of chickens with inactivated and/or infectious H9N2 avian influenza virus leads to differential immune B-cell repertoire development
in Frontiers in Immunology
Doyle N
(2024)
A novel optimized pre-embedding antibody-labelling correlative light electron microscopy technique
in Access Microbiology
| 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 Masters student training |
| 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 | Timing of skin testing to diagnose bovine tuberculosis |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| 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 | 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 | A bivalent vaccine to reduce the risk of Nipah virus outbreaks |
| Amount | £1,488,875 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | A live attenuated pseudorabies virus vectored Nipah vaccine for enhanced protection in pigs |
| Amount | £332,404 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 10024897 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | A methodology to universally attenuate avian coronavirus strains |
| Amount | £450,616 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Z516144/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| 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 | Blood Markers for prediction of respiratory virus infection |
| Amount | £21,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Development of CVI988 based recombinant vaccine |
| Amount | £238,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Eco Animal Health Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 02/2024 |
| Description | Development of avian herpesvirus vector vaccines for poultry |
| Amount | £772,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | MSD Animal Health |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Development of multivalent HVT vectored vaccines |
| Amount | £55,882 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Vaxxinova |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | Effects of co-infections on Marek's disease in poultry and development of novel recombinant Marek's disease virus vector vaccines |
| Amount | £562,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X017575/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Emerging porcine influenza and coronaviruses" (EPICVIR) |
| Amount | £596,027 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X019780/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 10/2026 |
| Description | GAP-DC-II: Genomics for Animal and Plant Disease Centre |
| Amount | £10,049,682 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SE0574. |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | Gene editing of chicken cell line DF-1 for increased HVT vaccine production |
| Amount | £11,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Houghton Trust HT/SPRG/24/02 |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2024 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Houghton Trust International Travel Grant-Liping Liu |
| Amount | £1,292 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | HT0967 |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Houghton Trust International Travel Grant-Yaoyao Zhang |
| Amount | £1,499 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | HT0965 |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Houghton trust travel grant - Sophie Cutts |
| Amount | £1,004 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | HT0968 |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Houghton trust travel grant-Soumendu Chakravarti |
| Amount | £1,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | HT0963 |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| 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 | Investigating Host and Viral Factors for Improved Design of Future Live Attenuated Vaccines for IBV |
| Amount | £668,367 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| 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 | Oropouche virus - Vector competence of UK mosquitoes to OROV |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at University of Liverpool |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| 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 | Using machine learning to identify the molecular determinants of vector-borne transmission in viruses |
| Amount | £110,327 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2024 |
| End | 04/2028 |
| Title | Animal study for investigating the performance and evolution of live attenuated vaccines in poultry |
| Description | This is a set of comprehensive set of biological samples taken from 212 Rhode Island Red SPF chickens. The sample set includes samples taken from upper/lower eye lid, beak, trachea, lung, kidney, bursa, spleen and blood. The samples are stored in RNAlater, PBS and snap frozen in OCT. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This set of samples forms an important and valuable resource for investigating the evolution of IBV vaccines in poultry. It will be a critical resource for upcoming projects at Pirbright and is already providing samples for other projects including the Bill and Melinda Gates Antibody hub who are using the serum from blood samples to investigate variable regions in chicken B-cells. |
| Title | Development of method to produce single cell suspension of cells from chicken trachea for use in single cell RNA-Seq using 10X 3' Gene expression |
| Description | We developed a novel methodology to process chicken trachea in the form of a high viability single cell suspension for use with the 10X Genomics 3' Gene expression kit. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will be published along with results from the study in a high impact paper in 2025 |
| Title | Development of recomibinant system to express Buffalo IgGs |
| Description | We developed a recombinant system for expression of IgG from buffalo to research immune response against various pathogens |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | No impact yet |
| Title | Development of recomibinant system to express Cattle IgM and IgA |
| Description | Developed recombinant system to express complex oligomeric IgA and IgM antibdes from cattle to study immune responses against various diseases. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These reagent are being used to study muosal immunity, assay and reagent developemnt. |
| Title | Development of recomibinant system to express pig IgM and IgA |
| Description | This system allows the recombinant expression oligomeric antibodies (IgM & IgA) from pig. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impact yet |
| Title | Development of recomibinant system to express rabbit IgG |
| Description | This system has been developed to express recombinant IgG from rabbit B cells |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | No impact yet |
| Title | Establishment of an efficient CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA library screening to identify the host factors required for maintaining the transformed phenotype of MDV tumour cell lines |
| Description | Herpesviruses are large dsDNA viruses that cause widespread, lifelong latent infections in different hosts, through multiple virus-host interactions to create a delicate balance between the virus and the host. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing is emerging as a powerful tool to investigate the precise determinants of latency in a number of herpesvirus infections. Marek's disease virus (MDV-1) is a lymphotropic a-herpesvirus associated with latent infections and malignant CD4+ T-cell lymphomas in chicken. MDV-1 has a two-phase life cycle, consisting of a lytic and a latent phase, the latter closely associated with the oncogenesis of the virus, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell transformation remain unclear. Better understanding of the factors that maintain the latency of the virus will provide insights into novel intervention strategies to interfere with the neoplastic process. We have used a high throughput genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout strategy, combined with next generation sequencing to identify the genes critical for maintenance of the transformed phenotype. 339 host genes have been identified being essential for maintaining the transformed phenotype of MDV cell line. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Establishment of the pipeline of CRISPR library screening in chicken cell lines has given the opportunity for the identification factors associated with disease pathogenesis and neoplastic transformation. The identified genes could serve as targets for inducing de novo genetic resistance using gene editing approaches. |
| Title | Establishment of an efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based screening pipeline for herpesviruses to study the gene function and streamline the vector platform for recombinant vaccine development |
| Description | The development of both cosmid DNA and Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technologies has greatly facilitated the introduction of mutations into the viral genomes of herpesviruses to study gene functions. However, cloning of viral genomes as BAC plasmid and subsequent mutagenesis is inefficient, time-consuming and may introduce mutations by repeated passages. Following our success in efficient CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the MDV genome in both replicating virus and MDV transformed cell lines and of HVT genome for the recombinant vaccine development, we have developed an efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based screening pipeline for herpesviruses to identify the essential/non-essential genes for study of the gene function and streamline the vector platform for recombinant vaccine development. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Identification of essential and non-essential genes of herpesviruses provided opportunities to study gene function in vitro and in vivo. Knocking out the non-essential genes in the HVT vector can enhance HVT replication in vivo enabling recombinant HVT-based vaccines to induce stronger immune responses. |
| Title | Lateral flow detection of avian leukosis viruses and Reticuloendotheliosis virus |
| Description | The system for detecting ALV/REV based on CRISPR-Cas13a, a SHERLOCK reaction system consists of specific RPA primers for amplifying target nucleic acid fragments, Cas13a protein, crRNA, and Lateral flow chromatography test strip for visualized display of results. The assay started with pre-amplification of either a DNA or RNA target input. Amplified targets are then converted to RNA via T7 transcription and detected by Cas13-crRNA complexes, which activate and cleave fluorescent RNA reporters based on its collateral cleavage nature. The result can be visualized using colorimetric lateral flow reaction. The test is rapid, sensitive and specific for detection of ALV/REV at 37°C. The product can commercialized with a great clinical application prospects. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The early identi?cation and removal of virus-shedding birds are essential to reduce the transmission. This rapid, simple-to-use and cost effective on-site diagnostic method will aid the eradication of ALV/REV in the affected area. |
| Title | Probe enrichment for whole genome sequencing of Infectious bronchitis virus serotypes from in vivo tissue samples |
| Description | This is a method for the whole genome sequencing of Infectious Bronchitis virus from in vivo tissue samples. Samples suitable for processing with this method contain a sample matrix with a high host nucleic acid background and low viral load, making it difficult to generate a whole genome sequence using traditional mRNA enrichment based methods. This involves a number of overlapping probes designed to multiple serotypes of IBV which hybridise and enrich for viral derived libraries in the latter stage of the library preparation process. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We look to publish this method and make it available to other investigators in the field. This tool makes generating whole viral genome from in vivo samples reliable and robust, and will have a beneficial impact upon the use of animals in such experiments, by maximizing the value of these samples. |
| Title | Sample sets taken from chickens vaccinated with M41-SK vaccine candidate and used to determine protective efficacy of the vaccine. |
| Description | A large number of samples were taken from birds involved in a study exploring the protective efficacy of a candidate live attenuated vaccine virus for IBV (M41-SK). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This will provide a unique set of samples for determine factors important for the infection of avian coronaviruses in poultry. Samples from this study were used to perform single cell RNA-Seq, which has been analysed to identify those cell types important in the trachea during infection with the virus. This cell annotation tool will be an important resource for future transcriptomic studies where cell types will require identifying based upon gene expression. We also developed a method to process chicken trachea using samples from this study. |
| Title | The development of a cell markers for identifying different cell types present in a chicken trachea infected with IBV |
| Description | This is a datasets of cell markers that were derived from single cell RNA-Seq analysis performed on single cells processed from processed chicken trachea. This is based upon 10 mock chicken samples, 5 trachea's from birds infected with pathogenic IBV and 5 from chickens infected with viruses infected with an attenuated phenotype. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will be a valuable dataset that can be sued in conjunction with spatial transcriptomic datasets of chicken trachea to deconvolve data and identify which cell types are present based upon gene expression profiles. |
| Title | The establishment of an efficient pipeline for in situ CRISPR editing of the Marek's disease virus (MDV) genome in lymphoma-derived cell lines |
| Description | The lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from MD lymphomas have served as valuable resources to study virus-host molecular interactions in transformed cells. However, detailed investigations into the functional role of different viral and host determinants in these cells have been difficult due to the lack of tools for in situ manipulation of viral/host genomes in MDV-transformed cell lines. Our recent success in efficient CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the MDV genome in LCLs has demonstrated the potential for targeted editing to dissect the regulatory pathways involved in latency, transformation, reactivation and lytic switch. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Using this approach, we have demonstrated viral genes such as pp38 and MDV-miR-M4 are not essential for maintaining the transformed phenotype. On the other hand, deletion of MDV-encoded oncogene Meq or mutations preventing its interactions resulted in cell death demonstrating the essential role of Meq in transformation. |
| URL | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/10/6/279 |
| Title | scRNA seq analysis of porcine BAL |
| Description | We describe for the first time scRNA-seq analysis of porcine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), a cell source increasingly used to analyse respiratory immune responses, and which has been shown to be major correlate for protection against respiratory infections such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Our work reveals both similar and unique cell subsets and divergent transcriptome profiles of BAL immune cells compared to publicly available data from blood cells. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data we have generated will provide an atlas for future pig BAL scRNA-seq studies. |
| 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 PVVG 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 Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This is being applied to LSDV, SPPV and GTPV genetic data. |
| URL | https://github.com/downingtim/LSDV-PVG/ |
| Title | Spatial transcriptomics of Chicken trachea infected with Infectious bronchitis virus to identify transcriptomic signatures |
| Description | Rhode Island Red SPF chickens were infected with M41-CK (a cell culture adapted pathogenic IBV virus) to investogate the evolution of the virus in chickens after infection, and compare with live attenuated vaccine versions of the same virus. Illumina sequence datasets were piped into the 10X proprietary analysis pipeline 'Space Ranger' for reads alignments, feature barcode matrices generation and secondary analysis including clustering and differential gene expression. Outputs from Space Ranger consisting of tissue images, tissue positions and feature barcode matrix were further piped into previously published R-based spatial pipeline 'Giotto' (Dries et al, 2021) for detailed analysis such as dimensionality reduction, co-visualization of gene expression and spatial location, cell type marker gene detection, spatial structure analysis, spatial gene co-expression patterns, etc. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The dataset will have impact for other research groups investigating avian coronavirus vaccines. They will also have a broader impact and be of interest to wider coronavirus vaccine development and research thorough the information on vaccine evolution and host response. The datasets will be of interest to persons within the field of spatial biology field, notably the software developers and bioinformaticians, as a dataset to test new models and algorithms. The results will be of interest specifically for those in industry who are involved in developing novel and more rational strategies for developing vaccines. |
| 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: 10.22541/au.172683590.01925550 10.1101/2024.07.23.604830 10.1186/s13071-024-06158-z 10.1101/2023.11.21.568070 |
| 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: 10.22541/au.172683590.01925550 10.1101/2024.07.23.604830 10.1186/s13071-024-06158-z 10.1101/2023.11.21.568070 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Akt inhibitors |
| Organisation | University of Castile-La Mancha |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided facilities, equipment, expertise and intellectual input for the study of Zika virus infection in mosquito cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners brought their expertise and intellectual input on the role of Akt inhibitors on Zika virus infection. |
| Impact | Akt inhibitors were shown to impact Zika virus infection both in human and mosquito cells, defining a conserved role for Akt signalling in Zika virus infection in both the human host and insect vector. Output associated with this collaboration: DOI 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199447 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Andrew Davidson - Proteome of viral replication organelles |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Projects are being initiated to study the cellular proteins associated with coronavirus replication organelle membranes and a funding application has been submitted to BBSRC. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Andrew has provided assistance with experimental planning and drafting of a grant application. He has also provided protocols to allow preliminary data to be generated. Once protocols have been established, Andrew will facilitate mass spectrometry data generation and will analyse the resulting data. |
| Impact | No outcomes to date, projects being initiated and funding applications in progress. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Arbovirus reverse genetics systems (AM) |
| Organisation | University of Tartu |
| Country | Estonia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We brought our expertise in flaviviruses, in particular emerging flaviviruses including Zika virus and Alkhumra haemorrhagic fever virus. We also brought our expertise in high containtment virology up to ACDP Hazard Group 3, SAPO3 and Schedule 5 for molecularly characterising recombinant viruses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner brought their expertise in making viral reverse genetics systems for dissecting the function of viral proteins. |
| Impact | A number of reverse genetics systems for flaviviruses have been generated, which are allowing us to interrogate questions about how viruses jump between host and vector species. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| 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 Kansas State University to seuence their hybridomas collection |
| Organisation | Kansas State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sequenced 6 hybridomas anti-viral hybridomas |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed their hybridomas to our Antibody sequencing project and agreed to to share these reagents with wider research community |
| Impact | Preservation of important reagents as sequences, and accessible for wider research community |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS to seuence their hybridomas collection |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sequenced 65 anti-Para influenza hybridomas |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed their hybridomas to our Antibody sequencing project and agreed to to share these reagents with wider research community |
| Impact | Preservation of important reagents as sequences, and made these accessible for wider research community |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with USDA to seuence anti-pig immune protein hybridomas |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Sequenced 14 mouse anti-pig immune protein hybridomas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Shared hybridomas for sequencing and agreed to post availbility of these recombinant antibodies on immunological toolbox website |
| Impact | Preservation of important immune reagents as sequences, which will also faciliate sharing of these reagents. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Bristol |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are collaborating on a PhD studentship to investigate "Rational development of the next generation of vaccines for Infectious Bronchitis Virus". We have sourced the funding and are hosting the student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners at Bristol are supervising the PhD student and we have monthly meetings to discuss project progress. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| 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 WSU to seuence anti-bovine immune protein hybridomas |
| Organisation | Washington State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sequenced 15 mouse anti-bovine immune protein hybridomas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Shared hybridomas for sequenceing and agree to post availiity of these reagents as recombinant on the immunological toolbox website for wider community |
| Impact | Permanently secured these hynrdiomas as antibody sequences |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Dan Clare - cryo-electron microscopy |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to characterise proteins complexes associated with coronavirus replication organelles. My team provides significant expertise in replication organelles induced by coronaviruses. Laboratory work is performed by my team. The project is funded by a joint PhD studentship working, predominantly in my laboratory. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dan provides expertise in cryo-electron microscopy and is advising on experimental design and data analysis as well as providing training. |
| Impact | The student has generated recombinant viruses expressing fluorescently-tagged proteins to allow direct visualisation of replication organelle membranes. These have been validated and cryo-electron microscopy experiments are planned shortly. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Dr. Brenda Murdoch |
| Organisation | University of Idaho |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of Bighorn immunogenetic diversity using T2T genomes |
| Collaborator Contribution | sequencing and assembly of long-read genome assemblies |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Dr. Giuseppe Maccari |
| Organisation | Toscana Life Sciences Foundation |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Ruminant MHC diversity, nomenclature, and sequence analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ruminant MHC diversity, nomenclature, and sequence analysis. Curation of IPD-MHC. |
| Impact | Curation of ruminant MHC-I alleles in IPD-MHC. Manuscript (DOI): 10.1111/tan.14494 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Dr. Manman Dai |
| Organisation | South China Agricultural University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided knowledge and expertise on avian disease research |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided knowledge and expertise on avian disease research |
| Impact | Two joint publications have been generated: 1. Dai M, Zhu S, An Z, You B, Li Z, Yao Y, Nair V, Liao M. Dissection of key factors correlating with H5N1 avian influenza virus driven inflammatory lung injury of chicken identified by single-cell analysis. PLoS Pathog. 2023 Oct 11;19(10):e1011685. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011685. eCollection 2023 Oct. 2. Dai M, Sun H, Zhao L, Wu Q, You B, Xu F, Liao J, Zhu S, Li Z, Yao Y, Nair V, Liao M. Duck CD8 + T Cell Response to H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Infection In Vivo and In Vitro. J Immunol. 2022 Aug 8;ji2101147. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2101147. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Dr. Timothy P. L. Smith |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA |
| Department | U.S. Meat Animal Research Center |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Analyses of ruminant genome assemblies |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sequencing and assembly of genomes |
| Impact | manuscripts (DOIs): 10.3168/jds.2020-19809; 10.1093/gigascience/giaa021; 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02302; 10.1007/s00251-017-1033-3; 10.1038/ng.3802; 10.1007/s00251-017-0973-y |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Effects of co-infections on Marek's disease in poultry, and development of novel recombinant Marek's disease virus vector vaccines |
| Organisation | Moy Park |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This is a joint BBSRC funded project on investigation "Effects of co-infections on Marek's disease in poultry, and development of novel recombinant Marek's disease virus vector vaccines" between Pirbright, Moy Park and Slate Hall Veterinary Practice. Pirbright team works on the detailed investigation of prevalence of naturally occurring MDV-2 (Marek's disease virus serotype 2) infection in the field in UK; isolation and characterisation of MDV-2 field strains and development of novel MDV-2-based recombinant vaccine MDV2-IBD-ND which will protect chickens against Marek's disease, infectious bursal disease and Newcastle disease. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Moy Park will collect the field samples and investigate the effect of MDV-2 on flock productivity and disease. |
| Impact | Too early |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| 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 | Finn Frey |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Worked together to identify the host factors involved in MDV latency |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided chicken gRNA library for screening of MDV cell line |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Finn Grey - CRISPR and ISG screens |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team is providing expertise in coronavirus biology and regulation of the host cell environment. Laboratory experiments are being performed by my team. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Finn's team have provided reagents and are advising on experimental design and data analysis. |
| Impact | Cas-9 expressing avian cells have been generated and validated. Optimisation of the CRISPR screen is underway. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Flavivirus microvascular pathogenesis |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Department | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I brought my expertise in dengue and virology, and had significant intellectual input into shaping the research question and methodological approach. I also directly contributed to the training of one shared MSc student, two shared PhD students and three undergraduate students who have contributed to this project so far. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner (Dr. Paola Campagnolo, University of Surrey) brought their expertise in cardiovascular biology and had significant intellectual input into shaping the research question and methodological approach. They also directly contributed to the training of one shared MSc student, one shared PhD student and three undergraduate students who have contributed to this project so far. |
| Impact | The collaboration has resulted in the following publications: DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00258-20 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001634 This is an interdisciplinary collaboration. The disciplines are microbiology/virology (me) and cardiovascular biology (Dr. Paola Campagnolo, University of Surrey). |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| 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 | Joint PhD project on "Exploring ultrastructural features of the virus-host interactions of MDV" |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Pirbright team provided expertise on MDV biology part of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Diamond team provided expertise on using the state-of-the-art tools to gain structural biology insights into the distinct features of MDV-host cell interactions. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Joint PhD project on "Using Marek's Disease Virus to understand the RNA world of alphaherpesviruses" |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Surrey team has provided expertise on characterization of Marek's disease virus encoded vhs protein function in vitro. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Pirbright team has provided expertise in making the mutant virus of vhs deleted MDV and study the role of vhs in the context of infection in vitro and in vivo. |
| Impact | The student Sophie Cutts has abstract accepted for oral presentation in both Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024 to be held in Edinburgh 8-11 April and 14th International Symposium on Marek's Disease and Avian Herpesvirus to be held at St. Louis, USA from 12th-14th July, 2024. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Maria Harkiolaki - soft xray tomography |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to characterise coronavirus replication organelles in whole infected cells. My team provides significant experience in coronavirus replication organelles. The project is funded by a joint studentship and the student is, predominantly based in my laboratory. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Maria's team provide extensive expertise in soft Xray tomography and are advising on experimental design and dat aanalysis. |
| Impact | Preliminary experiments have been performed to visualise replication organelle membranes. Optimisation of experimental set up is underway. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Martin Turner - The role of cellular RNA binding proteins in Coronavirus replication |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My lab has begun to establish the use of a CRISPR library targeting cellular RNA binding proteins. This includes selecting the most appropriate cells, virus and conditions for the screen and the readout method and this is based on our expertise and experience in coronavirus biology. All experimental work for the collaboration has been performed in my laboratory. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Martin Turner has provided a CRISPR knockout library targeting human and murine RNA binding proteins. He has provided advice and protocols to allow us to establish the screen using human or murine coronaviruses and will advise on analysis of data following the screen. |
| Impact | Experiments are still in initial set up stages and no results have been generated to date. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| 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. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Oxford - Strubi |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration on virus structural biology and joint PhD studentship |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on virus structural biology and joint PhD studentship |
| Impact | Collaboration on virus structural biology has produced a number of novel virus structures and new understanding of virus entry and packaging |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Poultry Health Training Course |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Pirbright provided expertise to develop and deliver a training course related to poultry health. Additionally Pirbright provide access to facilities, and logistical support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Surrey provided access to their facilities and experts to support the delivery of the Poultry Health Training course. |
| Impact | 16 veterinarians attended the course, improving their knowledge of common poultry diseases, clinical signs and symptoms, biosecurity, and diagnostic and post-mortem processes |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| 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 | Protecting Bees collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Department | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Impact | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Protecting Bees collaboration |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Department | Department of Biology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Impact | Collaboration on bee cell culture and effect of Wolbachia infection on susceptibility of cells to bee viruses |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Screening and validation of existing reagents against Pig IgGs and IgA proteins |
| Organisation | The Statens Serum Institute (SSI) |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provided pig IgGs (8 different IgG subclasses) and IgA proteins for this project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tested various avaialable 2ndry reagents for their specificity against pig IgG and IgA |
| Impact | Confirmed cross-reactivity of commerciallly avaialble antibodies between pig IgG and IgA, which were originally cliamed specific for corressponding antibody class. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Stathis Giotis - Bat immunity and differential gene expression |
| Organisation | University of Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to understand the role of viral regulation of innate immune signalling in coronavirus cross-species transmission, My research team provides expertise in coronavirus biology and host cell interaction, including reverse genetics. Laboratory experiments associated with this project are conducted by my team. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Stathis has provided bat cells and bat interferon reporter plasmids, as well as advice and expertise, to perform experiments. He will also perform data analysis of planned experiments to interrogate differential gene expression of cells infected with different viruses. |
| Impact | To early in the project to say. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding the genetic resistant to Marek's disease |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided the sequencing data of resistant and susceptible inbred chicken lines and crosses to be analyzed using AI for understanding the genetic resistant to Marek's disease. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators contribution is to use AI for analysis to explore the determinants associated with the distinct resistance phenotype. |
| Impact | No output yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Zika virus multi-omics |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I and my team members facilitated access to The Pirbright Institute facilities and equipment for Zika virus infections and provided staff training to external visiting scientists to allow them to perform virology studies at the institute. I provided scientific expertise and intellectual input for multi-omics studies of Zika virus infection in cancer cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners brought expertise and provided intellectual input on cancer and multi-omics studies. They brought pre-existing data and contributed to ongoing data analysis. |
| Impact | Research outcomes are a multi-omics analysis of Zika virus infected cells that could inform the development of novel cancer therapies. Manuscript DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.28.625843 This collaboration is multi-disciplinary (oncology, omics, virology). |
| Start Year | 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 | Careers event at Bishop David Brown School, Woking - MB |
| 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 | The event involved discussing a variety of careers including potential STEM jobs and wider opportunities at Pirbright with students in years 7-11. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| 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 | Interview skills workshop, Ash Manor School - MB |
| 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 | The event involved coaching year 11 students in how to structure and conduct successful interviews. Interviewing them and following up with awareness of recruitment strategy to aid their skill development. Providing feedback to candidates after reading through their CV and application letters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | MW gave a tour of Pirbright site for the B-Cell meeting attendees (2 batches ) this was organised by Selma Schmidt and Jane Edwards |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Highlighting the unique facilities of Pirbright |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Mental Health First Aid and Mind - Time to Talk Day 2024 (Pirbright) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised a stand that introduced the work of the Mental Health First Aiders at the Pirbright Institute in connection with the Mind - Time to Talk Day 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/time-to-talk-day-2024/ |
| 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: Assessing the effect of inter-isolate variation on the function of RVFV virulence determinants. |
| 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 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 | 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 Centre for Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases (CERAD) meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk entitled: The Pirbright Antibody Hub and Immunological Toolbox: Advancing livestock immunological research and vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | Talk entitled, "The influence of the germline antibody loci on the warthog antibody repertoire" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | Talk Entitled: The Pirbright Immunological Toolbox recombinant capability: Advancing Veterinary Immunology and Vaccinology Research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk entitled: "Decoding the cross-reactive humoral response to foot-and-mouth disease in cattle". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 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 | PRIDE day event TPI - HM, ND, CH, YC, MB |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stall presented describing recent research of the Coronavirus Cellular Biology group at the Pirbright Institute PRIDE event, celebrating Pirbright science and activites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Pirbright Family Day (Pirbright) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Organised and presented at stands that displayed science activities in the research group, the high containment community and within science services (CCG CL3 Virology; insectaries). Informed public about science undertaken at the Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Pirbright Village Fair 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This annual event, organised by Pirbright Parish Council and St. Michael & All Angels Church and hosted on the village green, offered an ideal occasion for the Institute to foster connections with the local community and ignite their interest in cutting-edge scientific research. The Institute's stall featured various engaging activities. Attendees, young and old had the opportunity to shake and reassemble virus models, swab Henrietta the hen to determine her health status, observe Culicoides nubeculosus midges in a display net, and examine midge larvae and pupae under a microscope for a closer inspection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Pirbright village fair 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This annual event, organised by Pirbright Parish Council and St. Michael & All Angels Church and hosted on the village green, offered an ideal occasion for the Institute to foster connections with the local community and ignite their interest in cutting-edge scientific research. This year's theme was 'Around the World' and included stalls and activities to reflect as many different countries and cultures as possible. The Institute's stall featured various engaging activities. Attendees, young and old had the opportunity to shake and reassemble virus models, swab Henrietta the hen to determine her health status, observe Culicoides nubeculosus midges in a display net, and examine midge larvae and pupae under a microscope for a closer inspection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://thebull.pirbright.ac.uk/Interact/Pages/Content/Document.aspx?id=7311&SearchId=208907 |
| Description | Poster and flash presentation at Microscience Microscopy Congress - PP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 3 minute flask presentation and poster entitled "Correlative cryo-bioimaging to study coronavirus replication organelles" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at International Nidovirus Syposium 2023 - HM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster entitled "Cross virus comparison of coronavirus proteins involved in replication organelle formation" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at Microbiology Society annual conference - YC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster entitled "Development of a CRISPR/Cas9 GeCKO library screen to identify pro-viral cellular genes in chicken cells that can be exploited to control avian endemic viruses" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at The British Society for Immunology Congress |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented a poster on the Pirbright immunological toolbox projects and activities, contibuting and adavancing the veterinary immunlogy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| 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 | Presenation at the IVVN Annual Conference |
| 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 Nipah and PRRSV vaccine research, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at International Nidovirus Symposium 2023 - PP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 10 minute presentation entitled "Correlative cryo-bioimaging to study coronavirus replication organelles" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at Microbiology Society annual conference - PP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 10 minute talk entitled "Correlative cryo-bioimaging to study coronavirus replication organelles" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at Microscience Microscopy Congress - HM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster entitled "Cross virus comparison of coronavirus proteins involved in replication organelle formation" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| 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 UK-ICN ECR meeting - PP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 10 minute talk entitled "Structural studies of coronavirus replication organelles". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at Vaccine Innovation Forum 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on our Nipah vaccine research, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 at the World One Health Congress 2024 |
| 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 vaccine research, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | RIVR (Recently Independent Virology Researchers) Annual Meeting (Liverpool) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a science talk to other researcher on a national level. The event included networking activities. Future collaborations have been planned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | School visit- Woking College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Engaged with students aged 16+, talk about Pirbright research, career paths and opportunities in STEM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | Showcase for Pirbright-Diamond collaboration in virus imaging |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Researchers from The Pirbright Institute, the University of Oxford's Division of Structural Biology and Diamond Light Source have showcased their expertise at the Harwell Open Day, which highlights UK science and innovation to the public. Staged for the first time in eight years, the event gave the public behind-the-scenes insight into leading-edge research and the chance to meet scientists and technicians who deliver discoveries that make the news. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/showcase-pirbright-diamond-collaboration-virus-imaging |
| 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 | Talk on stomoxys calcitrans colony |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk given to meeting of Public Health Entomology Group on stomoxys calcitrans at LSHTM (Melanie Nicholls) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Transforming to Zero, MW was invited by 3PM and GXN to take part in the panel discussion on achieving Lab Net Zero (official launch of the Transforming to Zero White Paper) at the Welcome collection London. Specifically the challenges raised by High containment. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Miriam Windsor was invited to take part in the panel discussion on achieving Lab Net Zero (official launch of the Transforming to Zero White Paper) at the Welcome collection London. Specifically the challenges raised by High containment. This has lead to being invited to join the London Highers Sustainable Laboratories Working group and provided opportunities for networking with other laboratory managers, leading to the proposal to hold a laboratory management conference in Guildford (March 20th 2025). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | participation in Pirbright celebration day 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participated in bioinformatics and sequencing stall |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |