Recognition and control of virus infections
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 activities contributing to this objective examine the underlying basis behind the induction and effector phases of immune responses from pathogen recognition through to virus elimination and the formation of memory responses. These complex and interdependent events can now be explored at a resolution that was previously impossible, owing to recent advances in high throughput screening methods, recombinant technologies and imaging techniques. The immune responses of the three key species studied at Pirbright (cattle, pigs and chickens) will all be examined at the molecular and cellular level during natural viral infection and vaccination studies. This will include the use of inbred and transgenic chickens, as well as our inbred pigs and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) homozygous cattle. As these species are the natural viral hosts, our studies have the potential to immediately inform strategies that improve the duration and broaden the efficacy of current vaccines as well as underpin the rational design of the next generation of vaccines.
Viruses have evolved an array of strategies to favourably influence host responses after infection. After cell entry, viruses influence innate and adaptive responses by interfering with multiple intracellular and intercellular pathways, for example proteins of many viruses inhibit specific immune recognition mechanisms. Our work in the natural hosts using well characterised and recombinant viruses will establish how different viruses can alter both immune activation and regulation pathways.
T and B cells are the major effector cells of the adaptive immune system being able to distinguish between self and pathogens, mount a specific response and reside after the infection to provide immunological memory. Vaccines remain by far the best method to control viral diseases. Consequently T and B cell receptor diversity and their protective roles are a major component of research activities at Pirbright during infection and vaccination.
Decades of existing work with influenza and human immunodeficiency viruses has demonstrated that even antigenically variable viruses possess conserved, broadly neutralising antibody eliciting epitopes, but that they are weakly immunogenic. Many of the viruses studied at Pirbright possess regions of high antigenic variability and dominant epitopes that don’t induce broadly neutralising antibody responses. However, it is now clear that sub dominant epitopes and cross-reactive epitopes exist with enormous potential to inform vaccine antigen engineering to boost immunogenicity. Among potential candidate vaccine antigens for each pathogen only a minority induce protective immunity. Therefore, the identification of protective B and T cell antigens and epitopes is crucial for vaccine development and for evaluation of their immunogenicity and efficacy. We will identify and characterise T and B cell antigens and epitopes derived from a range of veterinary species and their viral pathogens, focussing on identification of conserved antigenic targets that may provide broad cross-protection.
The immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines is both quantitatively and qualitatively dependent upon the delivery system used. We will evaluate delivery platforms including virus-like particles (VLP), empty capsids, nanocarriers, viral vectors or live attenuated viruses to improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines. The combination of vaccine vector technology and targeted delivery of antigen-antibody fusions will facilitate delivery of protective antigens and induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immunity against target viruses.
Viruses have evolved an array of strategies to favourably influence host responses after infection. After cell entry, viruses influence innate and adaptive responses by interfering with multiple intracellular and intercellular pathways, for example proteins of many viruses inhibit specific immune recognition mechanisms. Our work in the natural hosts using well characterised and recombinant viruses will establish how different viruses can alter both immune activation and regulation pathways.
T and B cells are the major effector cells of the adaptive immune system being able to distinguish between self and pathogens, mount a specific response and reside after the infection to provide immunological memory. Vaccines remain by far the best method to control viral diseases. Consequently T and B cell receptor diversity and their protective roles are a major component of research activities at Pirbright during infection and vaccination.
Decades of existing work with influenza and human immunodeficiency viruses has demonstrated that even antigenically variable viruses possess conserved, broadly neutralising antibody eliciting epitopes, but that they are weakly immunogenic. Many of the viruses studied at Pirbright possess regions of high antigenic variability and dominant epitopes that don’t induce broadly neutralising antibody responses. However, it is now clear that sub dominant epitopes and cross-reactive epitopes exist with enormous potential to inform vaccine antigen engineering to boost immunogenicity. Among potential candidate vaccine antigens for each pathogen only a minority induce protective immunity. Therefore, the identification of protective B and T cell antigens and epitopes is crucial for vaccine development and for evaluation of their immunogenicity and efficacy. We will identify and characterise T and B cell antigens and epitopes derived from a range of veterinary species and their viral pathogens, focussing on identification of conserved antigenic targets that may provide broad cross-protection.
The immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines is both quantitatively and qualitatively dependent upon the delivery system used. We will evaluate delivery platforms including virus-like particles (VLP), empty capsids, nanocarriers, viral vectors or live attenuated viruses to improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines. The combination of vaccine vector technology and targeted delivery of antigen-antibody fusions will facilitate delivery of protective antigens and induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immunity against target viruses.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Lead Research Organisation)
- Agricultural Research Centre (Collaboration)
- Leidos (Collaboration)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Collaboration)
- Friedrich Loeffler Institute (Collaboration)
- University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (Collaboration)
- INOVIO Pharmaceuticals (Collaboration)
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) (Collaboration)
- ACM Biolabs (Collaboration)
- Free University of Berlin (Collaboration)
- University of Lleida (Collaboration)
- Suez Canal University (Collaboration)
- Aerogen (Collaboration)
- ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY (Collaboration)
- EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL - EBI) (Collaboration)
- University of Pennsylvania (Collaboration)
- MSD Animal Health (Collaboration)
- Royal Veterinary College (RVC) (Collaboration)
- Distributed Bio. (Collaboration)
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- University of Minnesota (Collaboration)
- Eco Animal Health Ltd (Collaboration)
- Francis Crick Institute (Collaboration)
- Humabs Biomed SA (Collaboration)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Collaboration)
- Penn State University (Collaboration)
- Kansas State University (Collaboration)
- Zagazig University (Collaboration)
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- University at Buffalo (Collaboration)
- Indian Immunologicals Ltd (Collaboration)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- University of Plymouth (Collaboration)
- HORIZON DISCOVERY GROUP PLC (Collaboration)
- National Taiwan University (Collaboration)
- BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (UCBL) (Collaboration)
- Aviagen (Collaboration)
- Government of Canada (Collaboration)
- AIMM Therapeutics (Collaboration)
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) (Collaboration)
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica (Collaboration)
- Putra Malaysia University (Collaboration)
- University of Nigeria (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) (Collaboration)
- University of Edinburgh (Collaboration)
- Government of Thailand (Collaboration)
- Enesi Pharma (Collaboration)
- University of Lancashire (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- China Agricultural University (CAU) (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (Collaboration)
- University College Hospital (Collaboration)
- French National Institute of Agricultural Research (Collaboration)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- SPYBIOTECH LIMITED (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK (Collaboration)
- University of Parma (Collaboration)
- University of Miyazaki (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) (Collaboration)
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) (Collaboration)
- Huvepharma (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Collaboration)
- LANCASTER UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Leibniz Association (Collaboration)
- University Hospital Erlangen (Collaboration)
- BABRAHAM INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- University of Tokyo (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF KENT (Collaboration)
- National Agricultural Research Centre (Collaboration)
- University of Guelph (Collaboration)
Publications
Abubakar M
(2017)
Serological Detection of Antibodies to Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus in Large Ruminants.
in Transboundary and emerging diseases
Adams JRG
(2023)
Preventing bacterial disease in poultry in the post-antibiotic era: a case for innate immunity modulation as an alternative to antibiotic use.
in Frontiers in immunology
Adeyemi O
(2024)
Microbiological Assessment and Evaluation of Virus Yield in Germ-free Chicken Eggs
in The Open Microbiology Journal
Ahmed A
(2020)
Risks and Challenges of Arboviral Diseases in Sudan: The Urgent Need for Actions.
in Viruses
Ali M
(2019)
Avian Influenza A(H9N2) Virus in Poultry Worker, Pakistan, 2015.
in Emerging infectious diseases
Altan E
(2019)
Molecular characterization of Peste des petits ruminants viruses in the Marmara Region of Turkey.
in Transboundary and emerging diseases
Arias M
(2017)
Approaches and Perspectives for Development of African Swine Fever Virus Vaccines.
in Vaccines
Asfor AS
(2022)
Modeling Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) Antigenic Drift In Vitro.
in Viruses
| Description | The BBSRC-funded Institute Strategic Programme Topic "Recognition and control of virus infections" has four objectives which aim to improve the control of high consequence livestock diseases. Objective 1. Establish the influence of viral infection on immune pathways. We identified key determinants of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus pathogenicity and established that chicken interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins are potent restriction factors for avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus. Multi-omics datasets were generated and combined with highly efficient in situ CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tools to examine potential determinants of transformation and latency in Marek's disease virus (MDV). The power of these in vitro analyses has yielded fundamental insights into the process of oncogenesis. Using bovine respiratory syncytial virus (bRSV) we demonstrated that viral replication factories from these viruses, so-called inclusion bodies, sequester the innate immune transcription factor NF-KB to inhibit the cellular response to viral infection. Similar findings were also reported for human RSV confirming this mechanism is active across the orthopneumovirus genus. Objective 2. Measure the contribution of T cells and B cells to immunity. We developed novel reagents to analyse immune response against MDV in chickens. The effect of route of inoculation on the kinetics and magnitude of humoral and cell mediated immune responses and severity of disease in cattle were characterised after experimental inoculation with lumpy skin disease virus. African swine fever virus (ASF) research continued to focus on pig pathology and immune responses alongside studying the virus. Novel monitoring tools and multiple vaccine candidates have been developed to prevent the spread of the disease further into Europe. ASF encoded genes were deleted from the genome of highly virulent isolates and when used as vaccines, reduced clinical signs and viral load. Protection was associated with strong ASFV specific early antibody and cellular immune responses. Furthermore, a pool of ten ASFV genes were identified that when used to immunize pigs give excellent protection against a typically lethal dose of the virus. We characterised natural genomic variation in goats, pigs and cattle in regions containing immune-related genes. This has produced a panel of genetic markers which can now be applied to population level studies where disease traits are known. This can inform breeding strategies and identify functionally important genomic variation driving differential pathogenesis. Objective 3. Identify cross-strain reactive epitopes. Cross-protective antibodies to porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus were identified by novel genetic programming methodology and will guide the design of immunogens to induce cross-protective immunity. We have identified monoclonal antibodies (mAb) derived from humans naturally infected with H7N9 AIV and a found a potential therapeutic candidate for humans and animals. Through significant leveraged funding from the Livestock Antibody Hub, we have developed pipelines to isolate and study single antigen-specific B cells as part of the overall host response at various levels of throughput. This has led to production of porcine antibodies that mimic human anti-influenza antibodies, the identification of cross-neutralising antibodies against FMDV serotypes isolated from cattle and definition of a new functional variant of IgY in chickens. Objective 4. Determine if targeted delivery improves vaccine efficacy. Antigen delivery to specific cells of the immune system has great potential to increase vaccine efficacy. We have fused avian influenza virus antigens with single chain variable fragments of a mAb specific to the CD83 receptor expressed on chicken antigen presenting cells. Immunisation of chickens induced a faster and stronger antibody response than the antigens alone and full protection. Our analyses of the IgM and IgY repertoires of chickens subjected to different H9N2 immunisation regimes revealed that not only does the nature of the immunisation (i.e., vaccination or infection) influence the immunoglobulin repertoires of the individuals, but also the number of immunisations received and the particular combination of immunisations to which the birds were subjected to. We further improved the delivery systems for poultry vaccines, by using CRISPR/Cas9 and Reverse Genetic systems for generation of recombinant viral vectored-based vaccines. We generated a recombinant infectious bronchitis virus which induced 100% protection following homologous challenge. We have explored how best to harness mucosal immunity in protection against influenza using our well-established pig influenza challenge model. The toolkit to study pig immune responses was also applied to porcine respiratory coronavirus and Nipah virus providing key evidence to support vaccine design and delivery. This now places the pig model centre stage for understanding how best to apply vaccines and therapeutics in humans. |
| Exploitation Route | • Vaccines o SARS-CoV-2: Demonstration of the immunogenicity of RBD-SpyVLP in pigs supported its approval for testing in clinical trials. The immunogenicity data of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in pigs was included in the pre-clinical dossier submitted to regulators (e.g., European Medicines Agency) and supported the successful Marketing Authorisation application. o New vaccine candidates: Development and characterisation of new vaccines have been or will be taken forward in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies. For example, the outputs of the project to develop a live attenuated ASFV vaccine have been used to establish collaborations and gain funding from an international veterinary vaccine company and an NGO that promotes development of veterinary vaccines for livestock farmers in low and middle income countries. This will facilitate development to market of vaccines against African swine fever virus, which will protect the global pork industry and improve food security. • Models o Gene mapping and expression pipelines: The potential for our gene mapping and expression pipelines to be incorporated into whole genome analysis is being discussed with UK and international partners. Adoption will depend on integration as well as expanding the overall proof of concept. o Pig model of human disease: The pig is becoming increasingly recognised as a reliable and useful model for selection of vaccines and therapeutics for human influenza. Its utility for other respiratory infections has been recognised in the testing of vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2 by The Pirbright Institute. o Babraham pigs: The immune response in the inbred Babraham pig following pH1N1 was comparable to that of outbred animals. The ability to utilize these two swine models together with the availability of fine grain immunologic tools in Babraham pigs will provide unparalleled power to study immunity to influenza and other pathogens. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | The vaccine candidates evaluated in the pig model at The Pirbright Institute include the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. The immunogenicity data of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in pigs was included in the pre-clinical dossier submitted to regulators (e.g., European Medicines Agency) and supported the successful Marketing Authorisation application. The rapid approval of this vaccine for widespread use in the UK and other countries has been linked with a reduction in cases of COVID-19 and thus has reduced the impact of the pandemic. This has substantial economic and societal impacts. |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Advice to DEFRA |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | Provided advice and report on activities related to African swine fever virus to DEFRA. Took part in planning for Desktop Exercise for planning response to and ASF outbreak in the UK |
| Description | Annual Report to OIE on Activities |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Report of advice, training and diagnosis of African swine fever virus given internationally to OIE (World Animal Health Organisation) |
| Description | Contributed to Chief Medical Officers report- Genomics section |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6310... |
| Description | Deputy Chair of BBSRC grant Committee A |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | As chair of the committee I influence the decision on grant funding which have effect on animal and human health and food security |
| Description | Development and Evaluation of PPR DIVA vaccines |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease, severely affects small ruminants in almost 70 countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. It causes USD 1.5 to 2 billion in losses each year in regions that are home to over 80% of the world's sheep and goats and to more than 330 million of the world's poorest people, many of whom depend on them for their livelihoods. The estimated current expenditure on PPR vaccination ranges between USD 270 and 380 million. The annual impact of PPR alone may be valued at between USD 1.45 and 2.1 billion per year. Approximately a third of the global financial burden of PPR is borne by Africa, with a further quarter borne by South Asia. This burden will be removed with the successful eradication of PPR. The undiscounted costs for a fifteen-year Global control Strategy of FAO and OIE are between USD 7.6 and 9.1 billion, with the first five years costing between USD 2.5 and 3.1 billion. (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4460e.pdf). PPR is currently controlled by vaccination using mainly two live attenuated PPRV vaccines (Nigeria 75/1 and Sungri 96). However, the current vaccines and serological tests are unable to enable Differentiation between naturally Infected and Vaccinated Animals (DIVA). This factor precludes meaningful assessment of vaccine coverage and epidemiological surveillance based on serology, in turn reducing the efficiency of control programmes. Therefore, it is almost impossible to assess the quality and efficacy of existing PPR vaccines without knowing whether positive animals are vaccinated or naturally infected. Unlike rinderpest, where cattle and buffalo were primary hosts, in PPR, new crops (about 30-40%) of lambs and kids are produced every year and are the most susceptible population to bring back new PPR outbreaks6&7. Therefore, it is likely that the cycle of vaccinations and PPR outbreaks will continue until and unless we reach the stage of 80-90% herd immunity. Therefore, development of a marker vaccine and associated DIVA diagnostics will enable the assessment of vaccine efficacy which is essential for any successful vaccination campaign. https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2018/09/pirbright-scientists-run-vaccination-campaign-eradicate-peste-des-petits-ruminant The availability of a recombinant PPRV vaccine with a proven functionality is a prerequisite for the development of novel vaccines that may enable the development of DIVA tools for PPRV diagnostics. In the DBT-BBSRC FADH BB/L004801/1 grant we have rescued Sungri 96 and Nigeria 75/1 vaccine strains. Both the vaccine strains were rescued from respective synthetic c-DNA clones with mutations in the variable part of C terminus of the nucleocapsid (N) gene similar to Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) to enable negative marker DIVA vaccines. These two DIVA vaccines along with parental vaccines have been recently tested in a pilot studies in goats. Both the DIVA and parent vaccines provided safety, stability and protection for vaccinated goats whereas the control animals were clinically infected. Patent applications have been made to protect these DIVA vaccines. Agreements are being done with vaccine industries for the licensing and commercialisation. |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/press-releases/2018/09/pirbright-collaboration-provides-tools-peste-des-... |
| Description | Facilitated the transfer of molecular technology for the capacity building of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) peste des petits ruminants (PPR) laboratory.19-25.01.2020 |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Facilitated the transfer of molecular technology for the capacity building of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) peste des petits ruminants (PPR) laboratory.19-25.01.2020. The PPR virus infected samples can be diagnosed now at SUA, Tanzania without sending to Pirbright or CIRAD reference laboratories. This will enhance the capacity building of SUA and help immensely in the ongoing PPR eradication. |
| Description | Human Infection Challenge Models for Vaccination |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Member of the British Society for Immunology Forum |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The BSI is very active in lobbying MPs and Government on subjects to do with clinical immunology and immunisations. |
| URL | https://www.immunology.org/ |
| Description | OIE and FAO Lumpy Skin Disease Regional Meeting for Asia and the Pacific |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Organised seminar series on Sequencing, Virus Evolution and Molecular Biology at Pirbright (with Luca Ferretti and Graham Freimanis) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | PPR DIVA Vaccine development . FAO/OIE in the meeting proceedings in December, 2018 recorded the future use of DIVA vaccine in the ongoing PPR eradication programme. This will be useful at least at the end phase of eradication to differentiate between vaccination and infection.As such few industries have contacted us to have the DIVA vaccine strains for commercialisation. Also some of the endemic countries are keen to have the strain for testing the DIVA vaccines in endemic settings. |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | Participation in DEFRA African swine fever disease outbreak simulation exercise |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Provided expert advice on African swine fever virus including transmission and diagnosis |
| Description | Press release on threat of PPR to Europe |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | We have press released in May 2018 and the PPR out break, first in Europe main land, Happened in June-July 2018 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/press-releases/2017/05/peste-des-petits-ruminants-neglected-disease-whic... |
| Description | Training MSc students |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Delivered a new training session to MSc students teaching viral quantification assays. This lead to a greater understanding of laboratory techniques and academic research. |
| Description | WOAH Global Network of African swine fever diagnostic labs |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Participated in discussions to establish an WOAH Global Network of African swine fever virus diagnostic laboratories and became a member of the organizing committee |
| Description | member of management of IAA MRC awards |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | sLoLa |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | No changes yet |
| Description | "Vaccines for Global Epidemics: A Nipah virus vaccine to eliminate porcine reservoirs and safeguard human health" |
| Amount | £2,348,798 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 971555 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| 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 | Active and passive Immunity induced by aerosols |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R506448/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | African swine fever control tools |
| Amount | £1,077,663 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SE1520 |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Antigenic characterisation of infectious bursal disease virus to improve vaccination strategies and vaccine design |
| Amount | £450,685 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S014594/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Application of AI to profile the nasal and faecal microbiota of pigs following respiratory virus challenge |
| Amount | £16,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Assessing the functionality of avian BST2 as a viral restriction factor. |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Assessment of the immunogenicity of bovine herpesvirus 4-based vectors delivering Nipah virus glycoproteins in swine |
| Amount | £41,895 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | BBSRC IAA |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S506680/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC IAA' |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S506680/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Impact Accelerator Award: Evaluation of RNA-vectored delivery of PRRSV glycoproteins as a novel vaccine platform to combat emergent strains |
| Amount | £27,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC Industrial CASE (iCASE) |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC Industrial CASE (iCASE) studentship programme Oxford Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC International Institutional Award - Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of a Nipah virus neutralising monoclonal antibody |
| Amount | £70,385 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC Newton Fund Swine and Poultry Research Initiative |
| Amount | £865,623 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R01275X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode IPA |
| Amount | £302,086 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R002606/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode funding |
| Amount | £595,574 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R008833/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | BBSRC iCASE) Studentship: Enhancing protective efficacy of avian influenza vaccines through targeted delivery of protective antigens to chicken immune cells. |
| Amount | £98,212 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R50595X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC in year funding for Covid-19 research |
| Amount | £50,024 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W510725/1 |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC responsive mode funding |
| Amount | £356,484 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T005173/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and University of Oxford joint Doctoral Training Project |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | 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 | Bovine herpesvirus 4 as a vaccine platform for African swine fever virus antigens in pigs |
| Amount | £199,890 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y006224/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2024 |
| End | 12/2025 |
| Description | British Egg Marketing Board PhD studentship |
| Amount | £76,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Egg Marketing Board |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Broad and effective protection against influenza achieved by viral vectored vaccines |
| Amount | £1,668,741 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/S037160/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | Commonwealth Scholarship. Molecular determinants impacting avian influenza H9N2 virus evolution, replication fitness and virulence |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | LKCS-2019- 665 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Defining the circadian clock in chicken cells and its impact upon viral replication |
| Amount | £4,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | Developing a complex in vitro airway model to study respiratory viral pathogenesis, lung macrophage function and herpes viral vaccine vectors in pigs BBSRC/NC3Rs NC/X002446/1 |
| Amount | £249,908 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| Description | Developing a complex in vitro airway model to study respiratory viral pathogenesis, lung macrophage function and herpesviral vaccine vectors in pigs |
| Amount | £199,927 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NC/X002446/1 |
| Organisation | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Description | Development of next generation vaccine technology inducing rapid and strong immunity through targeted delivery of antigens to chicken immune cells |
| Amount | £473,080 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T013087/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2021 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Description | Development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for coronaviruses |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Dysregulation and evasion of the adaptive immune system by PRRSV |
| Amount | £47,760 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W510725/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | EU VetBioNet Transnational Access Fund: Evaluation of the immunogenicity of a bivalent PRRS-Nipah virus vaccine |
| Amount | £61,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | Efficacy of mRNA expressed antibodies against influenza |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 07/2021 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| 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 | Enhancing protective efficacy of avian influenza vaccines through targeted delivery of protective antigens to chicken immune cells |
| Amount | £98,212 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R50595X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Evaluation of CD4+ T-cell responses to vaccination with next generation FMD vaccines using Tetramer-guided epitope mapping of foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid |
| Amount | £18,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S506680/1 |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Evaluation of transmission blockers in the pig influenza challenge model |
| Amount | $2,371,127 (USD) |
| Funding ID | INV-058747 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Description | Evalution of a stable liquid formulation of the PPR vaccine in sheep and goats |
| Amount | £225,638 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAH-R67A1151A1 |
| Organisation | GALVmed |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2020 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | Exploiting novel African swine fever virus virulence factors and a porcine macrophage cell line to develop a live attenuated vaccine |
| Amount | £372,805 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V007947/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2021 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | FLI- TPI joint PhD studentships Avian influenza immunology markers. |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Friedrich Loeffler Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | GALVmed DFID Funding |
| Amount | £1,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | GALVmed |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | How does the lung protect itself against influenza? |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | Identification and evaluation of swine mAbs in pig influenza challenge model |
| Amount | $599,944 (USD) |
| Funding ID | OPP1201470 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | In vitro evaluation of peptide-based immune checkpoint inhibitors as potential molecular adjuvants for improved PRRS vaccines |
| Amount | £4,921 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Internal Seed Fund- Development of an IBDV diagnostic test that can differentiate infected from vaccinated animals, for use in surveillance. |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Description | International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) |
| Amount | £1,291,209 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y033744/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 11/2025 |
| Description | International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) |
| Amount | £1,291,209 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y033744/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 11/2025 |
| Description | Investigating the feasibility of adapting a direct PCR diagnostics approach to in-field animal testing |
| Amount | £864,356 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 104623 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | Japan Partnering Award |
| Amount | £49,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P025803/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | LVIF |
| Amount | $1,500,000 (CAD) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | Market research and technical feasibility of a bivalent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome / Nipah virus vaccine |
| Amount | £10,880 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | NC3Rs Research Project Grant |
| Amount | £436,339 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NC/R001138/1 |
| Organisation | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2017 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | Newton Fund: UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative |
| Amount | £841,995 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R012679/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Description | Newton Fund: UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative. Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry. |
| Amount | £497,995 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R012679/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Description | Newton Institutional Links grant |
| Amount | £269,123 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 261727271 |
| Organisation | Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | Next generation peste-des-petits ruminats (PPR) vaccines that differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA) - proof of concept in sheep |
| Amount | £158,845 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T004096/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | PRCV model to better understand immunity to SARS-CoV2 |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Pathfinder BB/R012431/1 Grant holder: Dr Mark Fife. Grant title: chIFITM knockdown/knockout technology as a platform technology for increased vaccine yields in SPF Eggs. |
| Amount | £12,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R012431/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2017 |
| End | 02/2018 |
| Description | Pathogenesis, immunity, and control of coronaviruses in a large natural host animal, the pig |
| Amount | £893,800 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X014266/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | PhD Studentship: Understanding mechanisms involved in immunosuppression induced by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses |
| Amount | £104,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2024 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | PhD studentship: A variable epitope library approach to the development of more broadly protective porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome vaccines. |
| Amount | £104,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | Pirbright Institute Agri-Food Technology Seed Fund: Production of prototype lateral flow device (LFD) for detection/ diagnosis of H7 avian influenza virus infection in birds and humans. Value £30,000. |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2017 |
| End | 11/2018 |
| Description | Pirbright Institute Flexible Talent Mobility Account |
| Amount | £255,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S507945/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Pirbright Institute PhD studentship |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | Protecting poultry from avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and Gumboro disease with a single dose of a multivalent vaccine |
| Amount | £448,937 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W003325/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Quadrivalent foot-and-mouth disease virus vaccine technology |
| Amount | $1,474,103 (USD) |
| Funding ID | INV-003628 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Recombinant pseudorabies virus as a multivalent vectored vaccine platform for emerging and endemic porcine diseases |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Reducing the Economic and Zoonotic Impact of Avian Influenza (REZIAI): delivering novel vaccines and diagnostics from laboratory to the field. |
| Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S013792/1 |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | SFS-10-2017 - Research and approaches for emerging diseases and pests in plants and terrestrial livestock: Addressing the dual emerging threats of African Swine Fever and Lumpy Skin Disease in Europe (DEFEND) |
| Amount | € 5,986,250 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 773701 |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | SOMAmer technology to diagnose coronavirus infection: veterinary and zoonotic implications |
| Amount | £1 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | SOMAmer technology to diagnose coronavirus infection: veterinary and zoonotic implications. |
| Amount | £134,107 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2601029 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Seed Catalyst Award |
| Amount | £25,527 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ISCF-TFPSA-Pirbright |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | Smart biomimetic nanomaterials for novel treatment and prevention of viral infection |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | The Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Amount | £640,473 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Research Councils UK (RCUK) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | The Pirbright Institute Flexible Talent Mobility Account Innovation Fellowship |
| Amount | £19,636 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | The Pirbright Livestock Antibody Hub |
| Amount | $5,530,900 (USD) |
| Funding ID | INV-003007 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | The Pirbright Livestock Antibody Hub |
| Amount | $5,500,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 11/2024 |
| Description | The genetic and functional analysis of variation in innate immune genes associated with restriction of influenza virus for chicken lines |
| Amount | £422,383 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aviagen Group |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Towards a novel multivalent poultry vaccine: Development of a recombinant infectious bursal disease vectored vaccine encoding conserved B- and T- cell epitopes from infectious bronchitis virus |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | Turnover of porcine lung tissue resident memory cells |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | UK International coronavirus network (UK-ICN) |
| Amount | £510,207 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W003287/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Understanding the importance of the PI3K pathway in modulating influenza virus replication in chickens and ducks |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | iCASE studentship: Production and assessment of antiviral prophylactic properties of natural biomolecules against avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses affecting poultry |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Title | A ligation and restriction enzyme independent cloning technique: an alternative to conventional methods for cloning hard-to-clone gene segments in the influenza reverse genetics system |
| Description | we developed an easy and efficient ligation and restriction enzyme independent (LREI) cloning method for cloning influenza gene segments into pHW2000 vector. The method involves amplification of megaprimers followed by PCR amplification of megaprimers using a bait plasmid, DpnI digestion and transformation. ligation and restriction enzyme independent (LREI) cloning method represents an alternative strategy for cloning influenza gene segments that have internal restriction sites for the enzymes used in reverse genetics. Further, the problem of genetic instability in bacteria can be alleviated by growing recombinant bacterial cultures at a lower temperature. This technique can be applied to clone any influenza gene segment using universal primers, which would help in the rapid generation of influenza viruses and facilitate influenza research and vaccine development. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The method will help in the rapid generation of reverse genetic base influenza viruses and facilitate influenza research and vaccine development. |
| URL | https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-020-01358-2 |
| Title | An ex vivo IBDV infection model using a chicken primary B cell culture system |
| Description | Recently, it has become possible to culture chicken primary B cells in vitro in the presence of a soluble construct of chicken CD40L that was made at The Pirbright Institute. We have demonstrated that these chicken primary B cells can be infected with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). This system will be validated and expanded to other B cell tropic viruses in order to replace the use of infected chickens in research, in an NC3Rs funded grant. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Using this system, we have determined that chicken primary B cells respond to IBDV infection by inducing Type I IFN responses. However, the induction is more pronounced in cells infected with an attenuated strain compared to a very virulent strain. This is consistent with the very virulent strain down-regulating antiviral responses to a greater extent than other strains which may, in part, explain its enhanced virulence. We also observed a reduction in the expression of key genes involved in B cell proliferation and activation following IBDV infection which was only possible by using the primary B cell culture system. |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=broadbent+dulwich |
| Title | Appropriate FMD vaccine strains for East Africa and South East Asia and new adjuvants for FMD vaccines that provide longer duration immunity |
| Description | We have identifies appropriate Vaccine strains for Serotyoe O and A for East Africa and for South east Asia which are published now. Additionally we have identified potent and safe adjuvants which has been tested in cattle and provides longer duration immunity. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Governments of East Africa and Regional OIE centre at South East Asia and vaccine producers are aware about the strains and adjuvants. |
| Title | Benifit of addition of TLR III to existing FMD vaccine |
| Description | We have demonstrated that TLR III adjuvants along with existing oil adjuvants provides longer duration immunity. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will fulfill the lacuna of short living immunity of FMD inactivated vaccines |
| Title | Comprehensive analysis of genetic variants across immune loci in indigenous breeds. |
| Description | The interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) protein family comprises a class of restriction factors widely characterised in humans for their potent antiviral activity. Their biological activity is well documented in several animal species, but their genetic variation and biological mechanism is less well understood, particularly in avian species. Here we report the complete sequence of the domestic chicken Gallus gallus IFITM locus from a wide variety of chicken breeds to examine the detailed pattern of genetic variation of the locus on chromosome 5, including the flanking genes ATHL1 and B4GALNT4. We have generated chIFITM sequences from commercial breeds (supermarket-derived chicken breasts), ancient bone samples, indigenous chickens from Nigeria (Nsukka) and Ethiopia, European breeds and inbred chicken lines from The Pirbright Institute, totalling of 211 chickens. Through mapping of genetic variants to the latest chIFITM consensus sequence our data reveal that the chIFITM locus does not show structural variation in the locus across the populations analysed, despite spanning diverse breeds from different geographic locations. However, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in functionally important regions of the proteins within certain groups of chickens were detected, in particular the European breeds and indigenous birds from Ethiopia and Nigeria. In addition, we also found that two out of four SNVs located in the chIFITM1 (Ser36 and Arg77) and chIFITM3 (Val103) proteins were simultaneously under positive selection. Together these data suggest that IFITM genetic variation may contribute to the capacities of different chicken populations to resist viral infection. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This paper is currently in press in. BMC Genomics. |
| Title | Detection of HA antigens of avian influenza viruses |
| Description | Assay for detection of recombinant HVT expressing HA antigens of avian influenza viruses |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This new method will help to detect recombinant HVT vaccine expressing HA antigen in infected cell. |
| Title | Developed assays for evaluation of antigen specific memory chicken T cells |
| Description | An in vitro model for generation of effector cells from memory T cells for chicken T cells were developed |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This method will enable scientists working on poultry vaccines and immune response to pathogens to assess memory T cell responses in chickens. |
| Title | Development of assay for assessing antigen-specific T cell responses in chickens |
| Description | An in vitro assay were developed to generate effector memory T cells from memory T cells (cultured ELISPOT assay for chicken T cells) |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Enables scientists to assess memory T cell responses induced by poultry vaccines |
| Title | Development of chicken NKT cell tetramer |
| Description | Tetramer for detection and quantification of chicken NKT cells are developed and tested. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will lead to identification of a novel chicken lymphocytes which has major role in the control of infectious diseases and tumour in chickens. |
| Title | Development of tetramers to study immune responses in pigs |
| Description | The pig is a natural and important host of influenza viruses and is physiologically more comparable to humans than other animal models in terms of size, respiratory tract biology and volume. It is also an important vector in the birds to human infection cycle. A major drawback of the current pig model is the inability to analyze antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, which are critical to respiratory immunity. We addressed this knowledge gap using an established in-bred pig model with a high degree of genetic identity between individuals, including the MHC (Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA)) locus. We developed a toolset that included long-term in vitro pig T-cell culture and cloning and identification of novel immunodominant influenza-derived T-cell epitopes. We also generated structures of the two SLA class I molecules found in these animals presenting the immunodominant epitopes. These structures allowed definition of the primary anchor points for epitopes in the SLA binding groove and established SLA binding motifs that were used to successfully predict other influenza-derived peptide sequences capable of stimulating T-cells. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Peptide-SLA tetramers were constructed and used to track influenza-specific T-cells ex vivo in blood, the lungs and draining lymph nodes. Aerosol immunization with attenuated single cycle influenza viruses (S-FLU) induced large numbers of CD8+ T-cells specific for conserved NP peptides in the respiratory tract. Collectively, these data substantially increase the utility of pigs as an effective model for studying protective local cellular immunity against respiratory pathogens. |
| Title | Establishment of the First WHO International Standard for anti-Rift Valley fever virus antibody |
| Description | We contributed to the characterisation of a panel of anti-RVFV antibodies to be used as an international standard. Our data and those of other national and international collaborators were collated by colleagues at NIBSC. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The antibody panel will we used as a standardised reference panel to normalise antibody responses to RVFV against. This will be particularly useful in diagnostics. |
| Title | Fluorescence activated single cell sorting to isolate gene-deleted/modified African swine fever virus |
| Description | A method was developed to use fluoresecence activated single cell sorting to isolate recombinant gene-deleted ASFV using insertion of fluorescence protein genes under control of African swine fever virus promoters as reporter to isolate cells infected with recombinant viruses. This method was used to generate 15 different single and multiple gene-deleted ASFV and study the impact of the gene deletions on virus replication and host responses and develop candidate live attenuated vaccines. This method has been further refined by splitting the fluorescent protein gene such that two genes can be deleted at the same time. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Development of candidate gene-deleted live attenuated African swine fever virus vaccines |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3390/v12060615 |
| Title | Gene expression analysis by qPCR to investigate the host immune response |
| Description | Evaluation of regulation of gene expression involved in the interferon response during viral infection is investigated by qPCR. Analysis of reference genes and experimental genes expression are compared to normalised gene expression variation and link them to events of up- and down-regulation in tissues collected during animal studies or from in vitro data of infected cells. The reference genes are first selected based on the variables occurring in the study (GeNorm and NormFinder are adopted for the selection) and the experimental genes linked to the interferon analysis are normalised to those basal expression level. The delta-deltaCt comparison is used to infer the fold change in gene expression. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The analysis of gene expression linked to interferon response has been used for evaluating the effect of viral replication during IBV infection, testing tissues collected during an animal study. Viral loads quantified by qPCR have been correlated to gene expression levels in tissues collected from birds infected with different recombinant IBV thought to have a targeted influence on the immune response. Equally, mock infected birds have been analysed to provide the basal expression data and threshold. The data have been collected and analysed for the manuscript "Recombinant avian infectious bronchitis viruses with targeted modifications in the nsp3 Macrodomain are attenuated in vivo and display morphological distinct phenotypes in vitro" under preparation. |
| Title | Generation of cell-free virus using feather follicle stem cells |
| Description | An in vitro model for generation and purification of cell-free virus using feather follicule stem cells |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Cell lines could be used to generate cell free vaccines against Marek's disease virus |
| Title | Generation of feather follicle stem cells |
| Description | Methods for generation and expansion of feather follicle epithelial stem cells are developed within Avian Immunology group. |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Feather follicle stem cells can be used to examine Marek's disease virus replication in vitro. |
| Title | Generation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells and analyses of their infection by foot-and-mouth disease virus |
| Description | CD14+ cells were selected. Day 4 monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) were generated by positive selection using CD14 magnetic beads and LS columns, followed by differentiation by culturing in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF. Both non-cell culture adapted and cell culture adapted FMDV were used in this study. Immuno-fluorescence microscopy (IFM) was used to investigate internalisation of FMDV and immune complexed (IC) FMDV at 1-6 hours post infection (hpi) and also to investigate the uptake pathways utilised by non-cell culture and cell culture adapted FMDV in the presence of different pharmacological inhibitors. Western blot, IFM and quantitative RT-PCR was used to analyse viral replication at 0-6, 8, 16 and 24 hpi. Plaque assays were used to investigate the yields of live virus produced in moDC at 0, 4, 8 and 24 hpi. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the changes in IL-12 and IL-10 secretion following FMDV infection at 2, 4 and 6 hpi. MxCAT ELISA was used to investigate the secretion of IFN at different times post infection. |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These methods were used to generate MODC and characterise their interaction with FMDV. They are currently being incorporated into a manuscript for peer review and provide a workflow to analyse FMDV infections of other dendritic cell types. |
| Title | Genome enrichement with long read sequencing |
| Description | We have developed the Nimblegen-Roche SeqCapEZ probes based pull down method to work with genomic DNA fragments up to 6kb in length with PacBio sequencing. This is being used for de novo assembly of variable regions |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We are now involved with industry to refine this protocol further with less input DNA and high multiplex capability. |
| Title | IBDV Reverse Genetics System |
| Description | We have developed a reverse genetics system for IBDV. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We have used the reverse genetics system to generate recombinant IBDVs and chimeric recombinant IBDVs that contain genes from classical and very virulent strains of IBDV in the background of a cell culture adapted attenuated strain. This will enable us to study the effect of individual virus genes on pathogenicity. |
| Title | IBDV titration in chicken B cells by TCID50 to replace IBDV titration in chicken embryos by EID50 |
| Description | The titer of IBDV has traditionally been determined by infecting embryos, humanely culling them at embryonic day 18 and then observing the number that show growth abnormalities due to virus. As this goes beyond 2/3 gestation (14 embryonic days), this falls under Home Office Legislation. We demonstrated that the immortalised B cell line, DT40, could be used to titrate IBDV instead, replacing the use of embryos. This is being written up into a manuscript currently. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | we have already replaced the use of embryos in our research. Once this has been published and is in the public domain, we anticipate this will lead to more replacement in the field, |
| Title | Identified the best sampling material for the PPR virus genome detection |
| Description | Quantifying the DNA from all the body fluids of PPR virus infected goats we demonstrated that non-invasive nasal samples are the best material for the genome detection as virus appears as early as 2 days post infection before any clinical signs appear and the virus detection linger for this sample type than any other sample. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | As we have shown the best sample type for the detection of PPR virus, we have not to do many sample analysis which save the money and effort during the eradication programme. |
| Title | Luciferase assay responsive to chMX stimulation for detection of bioactive IFN |
| Description | A luciferase assay was established for detection of chicken bioactive interferon in biological samples. A plasmid was generated containing the chMX responsive element paired with the luciferase gene. Transfection of DF1 cells with the selected plasmid, paired with a renilla based construct for estimating transfection efficiency allowing data normalisation is conducted to quantify the amount of interferon (IFN) units in the tested sample. Comparison of Renilla and luciferase luminescence values (RLU) detected by a luminometer upon use of a reporter system allows for the relative comparison of IFN quantity in different samples. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The quantification of bioactive interferon allows for the detection of an innate immune response in the context of viral infections. Specifically, reverse genetics targeting selected genes (nsp3, nsp16, spike) and allowing the generation of recombinant viruses with potential implication in the host interaction have been tested by this method to quantify the impact of the targeted modification in the ability of each rIBV to induce interferon. Notably interferon response is the first line of defence during viral infection. The assay has been tested on in vitro infections conducted in chicken kidney cells. The assay will also be used to evaluate the impact of temperature sensitivity of rIBVs in the context of the IFN immune response. |
| Title | Method for sequencing of ASFV (African Swine Fever Virus) based on long reads |
| Description | The ASFV genome is repetitive, due to the presence of families of genes that are present in multiple copies (>10). As a result, sequencing based on short reads only would not be able to reconstruct the genome in its entirety. In addition, good quality full genome sequencing of ASFV is complicated by persistence contamination with fragments of host DNA. We are developing a novel protocol that will allow the sequencing of the virus using long-read technologies (PacBio or Oxford Nanopore). Probe-capture libraries have been designed to mitigate the problem of host contamination by selectively purifying viral DNA from a wide range of different ASFV genotypes. Protocols are being developed to prepare high quality high molecular weight viral DNA from different sample types suitable for generating sequencing libraries for long-read sequencing. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | More than 100 samples from 18 different LMIC countries have been identified and collated for sequencing with the new protocol. They will be added to the web-portal for transboundary pathogens which is currently being developed thanks to BBSRC funding. |
| Title | Optimisation of chicken kidney cell culture preparation |
| Description | We have optimised the method of extracting kidneys and preparing chicken kidney (CK) cell cultures from chickens. CK cells are used for in vitro assays to study avian viruses, in particular infectious bronchitis virus. |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This has increased the yield of viable cells and the quality of the cell cultures. We can now obtain the number of cells we require using fewer chicken kidneys, therefore requiring fewer chickens to be culled. This is an important development for the 3Rs. We hope to publish this method for others' information. |
| Title | Reverse genetics system for Rift Valley fever virus and other bunyaviruses |
| Description | We developed a T7-based reverse genetics system for RVFV including for the rescue of a panel of novel reporter viruses. Using this system, virus will be rescued by transfection of cells with three plasmids encoding the three genome segments, driven by T7 polymerase which needs to be provided (e.g. stably or transiently expressed). Helper plasmids are no longer needed. RVFV-specific sequences can be easily replaced by those of other bunyaviruses of interest. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This research tool is used by my team and by collaborators and will be made available to the research community on request without MTA. The development of this system has reduced our reliance on other systems with restricted use (by MTA) and thus increases the UK's preparedness for bunyaviruses emergences as well as provides opportunities for commercial use. |
| Title | Scintigraphy of the respiratory tract in pigs |
| Description | We have used in vivo scintigraphy in pigs to characterize the distribution of large and small droplets, delivered to the respiratory tract using nebulisers or a mucosal atomisation device. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Scintigraphy and the tools we have developed to analyse the specificity and function of tissue resident memory cells will allow the effects of localised distribution of antigen in the respiratory tract to be studied and established the pig as a useful model for investigating optimal targeting of vaccines for respiratory disease. |
| Title | Stable chicken cell lines overexpressing chicken IFITM1,2 and 3 |
| Description | In collaboration with Mark Fife, we have produced chicken stable cell lines overexpressing chicken IFITM1,2, 3 and a mutant chicken IFITM3 lacking palmitoylation sites. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These cell lines will be used to evaluate the effect of the IFITM proteins on the replication of different viruses, including IBDV. |
| Title | The application of NHEJ-CRISPR/Cas9 and Cre-Lox system in the generation of bivalent duck enteritis virus vaccine against avian influenza virus |
| Description | We developed integrated non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)- clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system and Cre-Lox system for generating recombinant Duck enteritis virus (DEV)as vectored vaccines against the avian influenza virus (AIV). This is an efficient and rapid method for generation of a recombinant DEV-AIV vaccine. The vaccine provide protection of ducks from AIV and DEV and enable differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA) approach. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Increased research collaboration and research funding from Industry |
| URL | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/10/2/81 |
| Title | UniMMap- a pipeline for mapping RNAseq data over repetitive immune complexes. |
| Description | To exploit the abundance of available short read sequencing data we have developed a pipeline that uses mappability to accurately measure transcription over repetitive gene complexes. This methods uses known haplotypes to examine regions of uniqueness, and then the RNAseq data from the individual to train the method to be species or individual specific. This is particularly important over gene complexes that contain genes involved in the immune system, that are often highly similar in sequence but can have profoundly different functions. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | the immediate impact will be adding fine resolution data to livestock gene expression atlas projects lead by the FAANG consortium. Further impact will be arising as this method is published and we apply it to numerous existing datasets the are publically avaialable as well as generated at Pirbright and by our collaborators. |
| Title | Use of reverse genetics to develop PPR DIVA vaccines |
| Description | Reverse genetics technique has been established for PPR virus in our laboratory. As PPR vaccine is a live attenuated virus, it is not possible to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals (DIVA) in existing antibody assays. However using reverse genetics technique we have manipulated/mutated residues in the full-length cDNA of virus and rescued the live attenuated vaccine strain which worked as a DIVA vaccine. Using this technique a GFP ( Green fluorescent protein) has been introduced into the virulent PPR virus that helped to follow the virus in the infected goats. Similarly using this technique we have modified the existing live attenuated viruses ( Nigeria 75/1) and Sungri 96/1) in to recombinant marker vaccines that enables to differentiate between infection and vaccination ( DIVA). So we have demonstrated that reverse genetics tool can be used to study the pathogenesis and to develop the marker vaccines. This technique can be adapted for other negative strand viruses to design the DIVA vaccines. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | PPR DIVA vaccine developed that can differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals. This will be helpful to know the efficacy of vaccine by knowing the presence antibodies in animal is due to vaccination or infection. This will reduce the eradication time and will facilitate to declare freedom of diseases as soon as Possible without long waiting period. |
| Title | chimeric IBDVs |
| Description | Andrew Broadbent has engineered chimeric IBDVs expressing individual genes from a very virulent strain in the backbone of an attenuated strain. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These chimeric strains can be used to define viral determinants of virulence. |
| Title | in vitro model of IBDV antigenic drift in chicken B cells |
| Description | IBDV vaccines do not induce sterilising immunity, meaning vaccinated birds can become infected with field strains. As for other viruses, it is thought that vaccine-induced immune selection pressure drives the evolution of antigenic drift variants that accumulate amino acid changes in the hypervariable region of the capsid, which may lead to vaccine failures. However, antigenic drift has not been studied in any detail for IBDV, and there is therefore a paucity of information regarding how plastic the capsid is, how quickly mutations arise and become fixed in the virus population, or whether some are more dominant than others. One way of studying this is to vaccinate chickens with sub-protective doses and then challenge them with field strains of IBDV and then sequence the resulting viruses that emerge. To replace the use of birds in these experiments, we have developed an in vitro model of antigenic drift by serially passaging a field strain, F5270, in the immortalised chicken B cell line, DT40, in the presence of sub-neutralising concentrations of vaccine-induced antibodies to better characterise changes in the capsid. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | In our model, amino acid mutations arose in the hypervariable region of the IBDV capsid at the same sites previously observed in field studies, validating our model. Furthermore, we demonstrated that mutations arose early, by only 5 passages in chicken B cells, which subsequently became fixed by 10 passages. We are now doing next generation sequencing to better characterise the plasticity of the capsid. |
| Title | in vitro quantification of anti-IBDV neutralising antibodies using chicken B cells |
| Description | Typically, the titre of neutralising antibodies generated by a field strain of IBDV is quantified by determining the ability of the serum to neutralise the infectivity of a cell- culture adapted strain of IBDV into immortalised fibroblast cells. The reason for this is that field strains do not typically infect immortalised fibroblast cells and have a tropism limited to B lymphocytes. However, this technique may not quantify the correct titre against the field strain in question as it relies on cross-reactivity of the serum to the cell-culture adapted strain. We have developed an in vitro neutralisation assay using the immortalised B cell line, DT40, in order to quantify the titre of neutralising antibodies against field strains of IBDV. As cytopathic effect is not observed in lymphocytes, this assay relies on immunostaining with antibodies against IBDV to determine the endpoint. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This technique enables us to more accurately quantify the titre of antibodies against field strains of IBDV. |
| Title | method for identification of lung Tissue resident memory cells in pigs |
| Description | Recent overwhelming evidence indicates the importance of local tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) in protective immunity. Most work on TRM has been performed in mice and the TRM defined as inaccessible to intravenously administered anti-T cell antibody. However there are very few data on TRM in large animals. For the first time we have defined TRM in the pig influenza model. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The identification of TRM and their robust protective capacity in site-specific infection has provided a new paradigm by which to assess T cell-mediated responses and an important new target for vaccine design. Since swine are an economically important species, are used as a large animal model for human infection and play a key role in the emergence of novel and potentially zoonotic influenza viruses, the identification of TRM in pigs will allow us to study their role in immunity to swine influenza.and how best to induce them by immunisation. |
| Title | porcine TOCs |
| Description | We have developed the method of preparing and infecting tracheal organ cultures (TOCs) from pigs with porcine coronaviruses. |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The development of the porcine TOCs will allow us to study the replication, tropism and evolution of porcine coronaviruses in biologically relevant tissues, without the requirement for an in vivo study. Porcine coronaviruses can be used as a model for SARS-CoV-2 infection of humans. |
| 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 | tetracysteine-tagged IBDV |
| Description | Andrew Broadbent has engineered a tetracysteine (TC)-tagged IBDV that can be used in live cell imaging and co-infection studies with the split-GFP IBDV. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This tool, combined with the split-GFP IBDV, will enable us to study co-infection, super-infection exclusion, and the intracellular requirements for viral reassortment. |
| Title | Capsid-Specific Antibody Responses of Domestic Pigs Immunized with Low-Virulent African swine fever virus |
| Description | Excel file contains the raw data (P/N ratios) and results of statistical analyses that were used to plot the figures outlined in the publication Tng et al. Capsid-Specific Antibody Responses of Domestic Pigs Immunized with Low-Virulent African swine fever virus.Graphs were produced with GraphPad Prism v.9 and statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism v.9. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Capsid-Specific_Antibody_Responses_of_Domestic_Pigs_Immunized_... |
| Title | Capsid-Specific Antibody Responses of Domestic Pigs Immunized with Low-Virulent African swine fever virus |
| Description | Excel file contains the raw data (P/N ratios) and results of statistical analyses that were used to plot the figures outlined in the publication Tng et al. Capsid-Specific Antibody Responses of Domestic Pigs Immunized with Low-Virulent African swine fever virus.Graphs were produced with GraphPad Prism v.9 and statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism v.9. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Capsid-Specific_Antibody_Responses_of_Domestic_Pigs_Immunized_... |
| Title | Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses after Immunisation with Low Virulent African Swine Fever Virus in the Large White Inbred Babraham Line and Outbred Domestic Pigs |
| Description | Raw data for manuscript. Contains temperature, clinical scores, qPCR, blood cell numbers and immune responses over time for two groups of pigs immunised with low virulent African swine fever virus and challenged with highly virulent virus. Data for each panel or figure is displayed on a separate worksheet in the file. The readme worksheet contains a brief description of each figure. The majority of data is displayed in an XY table format, with the number of days post immunisation with low virulent virus indicated. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/6794941 |
| Title | Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses after Immunisation with Low Virulent African Swine Fever Virus in the Large White Inbred Babraham Line and Outbred Domestic Pigs |
| Description | Raw data for manuscript. Contains temperature, clinical scores, qPCR, blood cell numbers and immune responses over time for two groups of pigs immunised with low virulent African swine fever virus and challenged with highly virulent virus. Data for each panel or figure is displayed on a separate worksheet in the file. The readme worksheet contains a brief description of each figure. The majority of data is displayed in an XY table format, with the number of days post immunisation with low virulent virus indicated. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None as yet |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/6794942 |
| Title | Characterization of the haemagglutinin properties of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that caused human infections in Cambodia |
| Description | High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is a subtype of the influenza A virus primarily found in birds. The subtype emerged in China in 1996 and has spread globally, causing significant morbidity and mortality in birds and humans. In Cambodia, a lethal case was reported in February 2023 involving an 11-year-old girl, marking the first human HPAI H5N1 infection in the country since 2014. This research examined the zoonotic potential of the human H5N1 isolate, A/Cambodia/NPH230032/2023 (KHM/23), by assessing its receptor binding, fusion pH, HA thermal stability, and antigenicity. Results showed that KHM/23 exhibits similar receptor binding and antigenicity as the early clade 2.3.2.1c HPAI H5N1 strain, and it does not bind to human-like receptors. Despite showing limited zoonotic risk, the increased thermal stability and reduced pH of fusion in KHM/23 indicate a potential threat to poultry, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Characterization_of_the_haemagglutinin_properties_of_the... |
| Title | Characterization of the haemagglutinin properties of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that caused human infections in Cambodia |
| Description | High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is a subtype of the influenza A virus primarily found in birds. The subtype emerged in China in 1996 and has spread globally, causing significant morbidity and mortality in birds and humans. In Cambodia, a lethal case was reported in February 2023 involving an 11-year-old girl, marking the first human HPAI H5N1 infection in the country since 2014. This research examined the zoonotic potential of the human H5N1 isolate, A/Cambodia/NPH230032/2023 (KHM/23), by assessing its receptor binding, fusion pH, HA thermal stability, and antigenicity. Results showed that KHM/23 exhibits similar receptor binding and antigenicity as the early clade 2.3.2.1c HPAI H5N1 strain, and it does not bind to human-like receptors. Despite showing limited zoonotic risk, the increased thermal stability and reduced pH of fusion in KHM/23 indicate a potential threat to poultry, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Characterization_of_the_haemagglutinin_properties_of_the... |
| Title | Data from: A field study evaluating the humoral immune response in Mongolian sheep vaccinated against sheeppox virus |
| Description | Sheeppox is a transboundary disease of sheep caused by infection with the capripoxvirus sheeppox virus (SPPV). Sheeppox is found in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and is characterised by fever, multifocal cutaneous raised lesions, and death, with substantial negative impact on affected flocks. Vaccination with live attenuated capripoxvirus (CPPV) strains is an effective and widely used means of controlling sheeppox outbreaks, however there are few reports of post-vaccination field surveillance studies of sheeppox. This study used a commercially available ELISA and a fluorescence-based neutralisation assay (FVNT) to examine quantitative and temporal features of the humoral response of sheep vaccinated with a live attenuated CPPV strain in Mongolia. 400 samples were tested using the ELISA, and a subset of 45 also tested with the FVNT. There was substantial agreement between the FVNT and ELISA tests. Antibodies to CPPV were detected between 40 and 262 days post vaccination. There was no significant difference between serological status (positive / negative) and sex or age, however an inverse correlation was found between the length of time since vaccination and serological status. Animals between 90 and 180 days post-vaccination were more likely to be positive than animals greater than 180 days post vaccination. This data provides temporal parameters to consider when planning sheeppox post-vaccination monitoring programmes. In summary, our results show a commercial CPPV ELISA kit is a robust and reliable assay for use in resource-restricted low and low-middle income countries for post CPPV vaccination surveillance on a regional or national level. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.msbcc2fvx |
| Title | E-MTAB-5947- Transcription profiling by array of differential gene expression in chicken primary B cells infected ex vivo with attenuated and very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) |
| Description | Microarray data submitted to ArrayExpress from chicken primary B cells infected with a very virulent and attenuated strain of IBDV. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This is the first ever microarray data of chicken primary B cells infected with IBDV and will be of use to other researchers in the area of B cell biology or IBDV virology |
| URL | https://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/experiments/E-MTAB-5947/ |
| Title | Method to predict vaccine matching in-silico |
| Description | Every time a novel viral strain emerges, it is essential to know whether existing vaccines are effective against it. Several lab techniques are available in order to do so, the most widespread one arguably being VNT (virus neutralisation test). However VNT is expensive, difficult to implement and not very reproducible due to batch effects. Being able to reliably predict VNT-derived antibody titres with the computer would be a game changer in the field. We have developed an in-silico model based on machine learning that is able to effectively predict VNT outcomes out of sequencing data. We have shown that the method performs well for FMDV and also, apparently, for influenza. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We are currently in the process of validating and optimising the method. If preliminary results are confirmed, the method could be put to good use in a number of fields, and become the basis for a more effective policy making when managing and controlling devastating livestock diseases such as FMDV. |
| Title | South-African buffalo FMDV sequences |
| Description | We have sequenced FMDV buffalo samples originated from a EEID project entitled: Persistence of a Highly Contagious Pathogen: Ecological and Evolutionary Mechanisms in Foot-And-Mouth Disease Virus. This project aims to understand why a highly contagious pathogen such as FMDV, which induces a rapid host immunity and depletes the supply of susceptible host, is able to persist in isolated buffalo populations and thus avoid auto-extinction. The centre piece of the project is a cohort study which involves an established FMDV-positive breeding herd of ca. 70 buffalo in a 900-hectare enclosure surrounded by double game fencing housing buffalo in isolation from other herds in the Kruger National Park (South Africa). The entire herd is being monitored for three years (animals are sampled every 2 months (serum, tonsil swabs, probang) to trace FMDV transmission events, allowing us to define FMD infection dynamics across the susceptible calf cohorts and amongst adults. So far, FMDV genomes from 101 samples have been deep sequenced by illumina. Samples from the last year captures are currently being analysed and virus is currently being isolated. The second experiment is an experimental study, which involves a group of naïve buffalo experimentally infected with either a SAT-1, SAT-2 or SAT-3 virus. The infected buffalo were then allowed to mingle with susceptible animals and transmission of FMDV to naïve animals was monitored during the acute infection but also from persistently infected animals. So far, FMDV genomes from 48 samples obtained at days 2, 30 and 160 of the experiment have been deep sequenced. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The samples sequenced come from South Africa, which is an LMIC, While FMDV infection in cattle is very well studied, the mechanisms of persistence in buffalo, which is thought to be the natural reservoir of the infection, are not well understood. Such understanding would be essential to inform better policies to understand and manage FMDV, which is an economically important scourge of cloven hooved animals in LMICs. All the sequences will be made available on the Transboundary Portal which is being developed at Pirbright. |
| Title | The molecular basis of antigenic variation among A(H9N2) avian influenza viruses |
| Description | Avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses are an increasing threat to global poultry production and, through zoonotic infection, to human health where they are considered viruses with pandemic potential. Vaccination of poultry is a key element of disease control in endemic countries, but vaccine effectiveness is persistently challenged by the emergence of antigenic variants. Here we employed a combination of techniques to investigate the genetic basis of H9N2 antigenic variability and evaluate the role of different molecular mechanisms of immune escape. We systematically tested the influence of published H9N2 monoclonal antibody escape mutants on chicken antisera binding, determining that many have no significant effect. Substitutions introducing additional glycosylation sites were a notable exception, though these are relatively rare among circulating viruses. To identify substitutions responsible for antigenic variation in circulating viruses, we performed an integrated meta-analysis of all published H9 haemagglutinin sequences and antigenic data. We validated this statistical analysis experimentally and allocated several new residues to H9N2 antigenic sites, providing molecular markers that will help explain vaccine breakdown in the field and inform vaccine selection decisions. We find evidence for the importance of alternative mechanisms of immune escape, beyond simple modulation of epitope structure, with substitutions increasing glycosylation or receptor-binding avidity, exhibiting the largest impacts on chicken antisera binding. Of these, meta-analysis indicates avidity regulation to be more relevant to the evolution of circulating viruses, suggesting that a specific focus on avidity regulation is required to fully understand the molecular basis of immune escape by influenza, and potentially other viruses. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/The_molecular_basis_of_antigenic_variation_among_A_H9N2_... |
| Title | The molecular basis of antigenic variation among A(H9N2) avian influenza viruses |
| Description | Avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses are an increasing threat to global poultry production and, through zoonotic infection, to human health where they are considered viruses with pandemic potential. Vaccination of poultry is a key element of disease control in endemic countries, but vaccine effectiveness is persistently challenged by the emergence of antigenic variants. Here we employed a combination of techniques to investigate the genetic basis of H9N2 antigenic variability and evaluate the role of different molecular mechanisms of immune escape. We systematically tested the influence of published H9N2 monoclonal antibody escape mutants on chicken antisera binding, determining that many have no significant effect. Substitutions introducing additional glycosylation sites were a notable exception, though these are relatively rare among circulating viruses. To identify substitutions responsible for antigenic variation in circulating viruses, we performed an integrated meta-analysis of all published H9 haemagglutinin sequences and antigenic data. We validated this statistical analysis experimentally and allocated several new residues to H9N2 antigenic sites, providing molecular markers that will help explain vaccine breakdown in the field and inform vaccine selection decisions. We find evidence for the importance of alternative mechanisms of immune escape, beyond simple modulation of epitope structure, with substitutions increasing glycosylation or receptor-binding avidity, exhibiting the largest impacts on chicken antisera binding. Of these, meta-analysis indicates avidity regulation to be more relevant to the evolution of circulating viruses, suggesting that a specific focus on avidity regulation is required to fully understand the molecular basis of immune escape by influenza, and potentially other viruses. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/The_molecular_basis_of_antigenic_variation_among_A_H9N2_... |
| Title | Viral assembly pipeline |
| Description | The Integrative Biology and Bioinformatics group has developed a data analysis pipeline to obtain sensitive and robust viral assemblies out of high-throughput sequencing data. In spite of the relatively short genomic length of most viruses, assembling of viral sequences can be challenging due to several reasons, such as: low amount of material in the sample, which might require amplification, introducing biases, and/or generates low-quality sequences; uneven coverage due to low-quality material or the genomic material of the virus being RNA; the viral nucleic acid being almost lost in the background of nucleic acid of the host. Our pipeline overcomes most of those problems, and is even able to detect different viral strains being present together in the same sample. It can also be used on metagenomic environmental samples. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The pipeline is being deployed as the tool of choice for the nascent sequencing facility at Pirbright. It has been used by several groups at Pirbright, and the FMDV World Reference Lab, in order to assemble very different kinds of viruses. |
| Title | Viral variant calling pipeline |
| Description | The Integrative Biology and Bioinformatics group has developed a data analysis pipeline to obtain sensitive and robust variant calling for viral sequences out of high-throughput sequencing data. In spite of the relatively short genomic length of most viruses, calling variant for viral sequences can be challenging due to several reasons, such as: low amount of material in the sample, which might require amplification, introducing biases, and/or generates low-quality sequences; very high genome coverage, which slows down most existing variant callers; the presence of a potentially very high number of different haplotypes for RNA viruses, which is an unusual scenario in variant calling. Our fast and sensitive Bayesian pipeline overcomes most of those problems. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The pipeline is being deployed as the tool of choice for the nascent sequencing facility at Pirbright. It has been used by several groups at Pirbright, and the FMDV World Reference Lab, in order to assemble very different kinds of viruses. |
| Title | WRL FMDV sequences for transboundary portal |
| Description | We have generated a collection of sequences of FMDV (foot-and-mouth disease virus) from samples collected by the FMDV World Reference Laboratory at Pirbright. Those full-genome sequences sample a number of recent exotic strains across different regions/countries of the world, focusing mainly on LMICs in North Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. The main represented FMDV types are O and A. Part of the sequences have already been made available through GenBank -- all will be soon downloadable from the Transboundary Portal which is being developed at Pirbright. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Knowledge of the sequenced strains is essential to inform policy for FMDV control in the LMIC countries where the samples were collected. That chimes very well with the GCRF focus of the project. At a more global scale, knowledge of the features and sequence evolution of the virus in time and across different countries is essential in order to accurately model its behaviour. In general FMDV is a scourge of cloven-hoofed animals, and controlling it better is essential in order to alleviate the huge economic toll claimed by the virus in LMICs. |
| Title | Zimbabwe FMDV sequences |
| Description | Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes an acute vesicular disease in domestic cloven-hooved animals. However, in the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) clinical disease is rarely observed and following infection virus is persistently carried in the oesophageal-pharyngeal area of the upper respiratory tract. During the 1990s oesophageal-pharyngeal scrapings were collected from free-living African buffalo in multiple herds in six different geographic areas of Zimbabwe. We sequenced over 140 FMD viruses each belonging to one of the Southern African Territories (SAT) serotypes (SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3) from primary bovine thyroid cells. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset has been generated from samples collected in Zimbabwe, which is a low-income country. Those viral sequences will be essential to help elucidating the nature of persistent FMDV infection in African buffalo, which is supposed to be the main virus reservoir in vivo. As the samples track viral infection and evolution over several years and across a number of different herds in different national parks and conservatories, the dataset will also inform better animal management and conservation. A better understanding of FMDV persistence would also be essential to mitigate the economic burden generated by the disease, which is a scourge of cloven-hoofed animals in LMICs. All the sequences will be made available through the Transboundary Pathogen portal that is being developed at Pirbright. |
| Description | ASFV Structure |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have prepared samples for analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Electron tomographic analysis of the samples we provided. |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Adjuvants study-FMD vaccine at Indian Immunologicals |
| Organisation | Indian Immunologicals Ltd |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conducted screening of 8 adjuvants with FMD vaccine in cattle and analyse the samples originated from the experiments. 4 selected adjuvants were tested in cattle at the Pirbright Institute and TLR III adjuvant was found as the best one. Under Follow on grant 12 cattle were vaccinated with existing vaccine with oil adjuvant and 12 cattle were vaccinated with oil and TLR III adjuvants. The protective immununity was assessed from the virus neutralizing antibody status. By 6 months post-vaccination only 17% of cattle were having protective antibodies (1:45 dilution) in conventional vaccine group whereas 80% cattle were having protective neutralizing titer (1:45) in TLR adjuvanted group. Therefore it is clear that adding TLR adjuvant one can increase the duration of immunity up to 6 months. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Facilitate the animal experiments at their High containment |
| Impact | Conducted screening of 8 adjuvants with FMD vaccine in cattle and analyse the samples originated from the experiments. 4 selected adjuvants were tested in cattle at the Pirbright Institute and TLR III adjuvant was found as the best one. Under Follow on grant 12 cattle were vaccinated with existing vaccine with oil adjuvant and 12 cattle were vaccinated with oil and TLR III adjuvants. The protective immununity was assessed from the virus neutralizing antibody status. By 6 months post-vaccination only 17% of cattle were having protective antibodies (1:45 dilution) in conventional vaccine group whereas 80% cattle were having protective neutralizing titer (1:45) in TLR adjuvanted group. Therefore it is clear that adding TLR adjuvant one can increase the duration of immunity up to 6 months. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Aerosol delivery of vaccines and therapeutics |
| Organisation | Aerogen |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed the pig influenza model which is a natural host pathogen system |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided expertise and equipment for aerosol delivery |
| Impact | Successfully delivered vaccines by aerosol |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Anihwa Call 1 |
| Organisation | Friedrich Loeffler Institute |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1. Conducted challenge experiments in goats to study pathogenicity. 2. Developed NGS technology to sequence PPR whole genome. |
| Collaborator Contribution | FLI has conducted transmission study between different species ( Goats, pig, camel). For the first time they showed that pigs are clinically infected by PPR virus. |
| Impact | Joint Publications |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Anopheles reannotation |
| Organisation | Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided RNA-sequencing data (produced by Jaroslaw Krzywinski and analysed by us) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Using the data to produce a reannotation of Anopheles Gambiae |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Assessment of the effect of IL-1beta on the induction of protective mucosal immunity to influenza |
| Organisation | University Hospital Erlangen |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We have provided the pig influenza model and the tools we have developed to test local mucosal immunity and protection against heterologous viruses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team of Professor Tenbusch provided the Adeno viral vectored constructs expressing Il-1beta and the influenza hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein. |
| Impact | We have shown that IL-1B increased the mucosal antibody responses. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Aviagen |
| Organisation | Aviagen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Influenza virus expertise in poultry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sharing of commercial poultry breed resources |
| Impact | We have a sponsored PhD studentship to commence Oct 2021 agreed. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Avian influenza H7N9 virus evolution: defining the impact of internal genes on virus infection in avian and mammalian species |
| Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | (1) Exchange of research methods and reagents |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Exchange of research methods and reagents. (2) Provision of training to PhD students and postdoctoral Scientist (3) Critical review of experimental data and manuscripts. |
| Impact | (1) Joint funding: BBSRC Newton Fund: UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative (2018-2021). Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry. Value: £497,995.93. UK Co-Is: Prof John McCauley (Crick Institute), Dr Richard Reeve (University of Glasgow). Collaborators from China: Dr Yipeng Sun, Prof Jinhua Liu and Dr Juan Pu (China Agricultural University), Prof Yongqing Li (Beijing Academy of Agriculture and forestry Sciences), Dr Wenfei Zhu (National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC). |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | BBSRC - Oxford University iCASE Studentship (October 2019- September 2023). Production and assessment of antiviral prophylactic properties of natural biomolecules against avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses affecting poultry production |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration between The Pirbright Institute (UK), Oxford University (UK) and industrial partners in Italy. This project will conceived and developed bu MI. The PhD student (Holly Everest) in my group is investigating the antiviral prophylactic properties of natural biomolecules against avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses affecting poultry production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners in Italy will produce and purify natural antiviral molecules effective against avian influenza and other poultry viruses. |
| Impact | This project started in January 2020. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC LINK Project |
| Organisation | University of Plymouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Confirm susceptibility of porcine macrophage cell line to African swine fever virus |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide a conditionally transformed porcine macrophage cell line for research and diagnosis of African swine fever virus |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Bridget Penman |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Department | School of Life Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are providing genetic data and diversity measures of MHC and associated receptors to inform the modelling efforts to elucidate which selection pressures are the main drivers for the types of diversity we see in extant species. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They are experts in mathmatical modelling and will provide data to help explain genetic diversity in cattle. |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | CVR-TPI collaboration on Rift Valley fever virus and arboviruses |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | MRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided technical expertise, identified objectives, shared protocols, undertook project and time management, established collaborations with third parties, provided leadership. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators provided technical expertise and reagents. |
| Impact | Generation of a Rift Valley fever virus reverse genetics system for use in research and commercialization. The RG system enhanced our preparedness to bunyavirus emergence in the UK and Europe more broadly. Over the years, we have published several research articles on arbovirus-insect interactions. We have a joint PhD studentship that commenced in October 2022. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Cattle antibody bindinig to bovine respiratory syncytial virus- Peter Kwong |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Department | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | By studying the role of the light chain in cattle antibody binding, we have made a panel of recombinant antibodies against bovine respiratory syncytial virus that differ in their light chain pairing. This has show that the light chain has a structural role rather than direct binding to the pathogen. We are now making crystal structures of these antibodies in complex with the pathogen, which is being supplied by Peter Kwong at NIAID. We are making the recombinant antibodies and resolving their structure in complex with the antigen. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Peter Kwong is supplying us with pathogen material and the ability to express more antigen. In the future they will also help interpret the results. |
| Impact | Crytal structures of antibodies bound to epitopes on the major antigenic protein of bRSV. A deeper understanding of the role that the light chain plays in determining antigen specificity. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Challenge of transgenic chickens with influenza viruses |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Section of Virology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have challenged transgenic chickens with recombinant avian influenza viruses to determine outcome; infectivity, transmission, pathogenicity, dissemination within host. We also processed the samples generated from these animal experiments at The Pirbright Institute. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Imperial College (Wendy Barclay and Mike Skinner) generated recombinant avian influenza viruses for challenge. |
| Impact | This collaboration has resulted in the successful award of a joint grant with imperial college aiming to carry out challenge experiments on novel transgenic chickens to facilitate control of avian influenza virus in the poultry population. BB/S007911/1 - Investigating the role of ANP32A in the replication of avian Influenza virus |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration on the development of intranasal live-attenuated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contributed reagents to tests the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of an intranasal live-attenuated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical animal models including mice and hamster. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners undertook most of the work to complete the study detailed in the publication entitled "Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of an intranasal live-attenuated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical animal models". https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.08.425974v1 Abstract of publication. The global deployment of an effective and safe vaccine is currently a public health priority to curtail the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we evaluated a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based intranasal vectored-vaccine in mice and hamsters for its immunogenicity, safety and protective efficacy in challenge studies with SARS-CoV-2. The recombinant (r)NDV-S vaccine expressing spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 administrated via intranasal route in mice induced high levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG2a antibodies and T cell-mediated immunity. Hamsters vaccinated with two doses of vaccine showed complete protection from clinical disease including lung infection, inflammation, and pathological lesions after SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Importantly, a single or double dose of intranasal rNDV-S vaccine completely blocked SARS-CoV-2 shedding in nasal turbinate and lungs within 4 days of vaccine administration in hamsters. Taken together, intranasal administration of rNDV-S has the potential to control infection at the site of inoculation, which should prevent both the clinical disease and transmission to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Impact | The partnership resulted in a joint publication. "Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of an intranasal live-attenuated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical animal models". https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.08.425974v1 Abstract of publication. The global deployment of an effective and safe vaccine is currently a public health priority to curtail the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we evaluated a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based intranasal vectored-vaccine in mice and hamsters for its immunogenicity, safety and protective efficacy in challenge studies with SARS-CoV-2. The recombinant (r)NDV-S vaccine expressing spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 administrated via intranasal route in mice induced high levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG2a antibodies and T cell-mediated immunity. Hamsters vaccinated with two doses of vaccine showed complete protection from clinical disease including lung infection, inflammation, and pathological lesions after the SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Importantly, a single or double dose of intranasal rNDV-S vaccine completely blocked SARS-CoV-2 shedding in nasal turbinate and lungs within 4 days of vaccine administration in hamsters. Taken together, intranasal administration of rNDV-S has the potential to control infection at the site of inoculation, which should prevent both the clinical disease and transmission to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr. C.A.M. (Xander) de Haan |
| Organisation | Utrecht University |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have established a robust model for assessing pathogenesis and immune control following infection with pandemic H1N1 and Coronaviurses in a large natural host, the pig |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. C.A.M. (Xander) de Haan have provided us with recombinant Spike protein from porcine respiratory coronvairus (PRCV) which is very useful for assessing immune responses following infection with PRCV |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with NIBSC: Establishment of the First WHO International Standard for anti-Rift Valley fever virus antibody |
| Organisation | National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We have tested a set of antibodies provided by NIBSC for their neutralization efficiency against RVFV using viral neutralization assays. We reported results to NIBSC and edited a manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NIBSC project managed, provided reagents, analysed data and prepared a manuscript for publication. |
| Impact | Generation of research reagents. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with SpyBiotech |
| Organisation | SpyBiotech Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have established a powerful pig model to assess efficacy of vaccines against coronavirus infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have tested vaccines provided by SpyBiotech inducing either a strong antibody or T cell immune responses |
| Impact | not yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 on bunyavirus-host interactions |
| Organisation | Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (UCBL) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We undertake research studies on bunyavirus-host interactions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners undertake research studies on bunyavirus-host interactions and provide reagents to us. |
| Impact | Exchange of technologies and reagents. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Cambridge |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Virology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have performed experiments with SARS-CoV-2 to investigate the host response to infection in vitro. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have led the research and we have published a paper detailing the results. |
| Impact | Information on the host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Echavarría-Consuegra L, Cook GM, Busnadiego I, Lefèvre C, Keep S, Brown K, Doyle N, Dowgier G, Franaszek K, Moore NA, Siddell SG, Bickerton E, Hale BG, Firth AE, Brierley I, Irigoyen N. Manipulation of the unfolded protein response: A pharmacological strategy against coronavirus infection. PLoS Pathog. 2021 Jun 17;17(6):e1009644. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009644. PMID: 34138976; PMCID: PMC8211288. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Cambridge |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have performed in vitro experiments with infectious bronchitis virus, contributed to data analysis, preparation of manuscripts and discussed further funding opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have analysed viral transcription and translation, and host gene expression after infection of host cells with infectious bronchitis virus, prepared manuscripts and discussed further funding opportunities. |
| Impact | Dinan, A., Keep, S., Bickerton, E., Britton, P., Firth, A. and Brierley, I. (2019) Comparative analysis of gene expression in virulent and attenuated strains of infectious bronchitis virus at sub-codon resolution. J. Virol. 93(18) e00714-19. PhD studentship funding from The Pirbright Institute "Investigation of Canonical and Noncanonical Transcription during Coronavirus Replication" which commenced in 2021. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have written a PhD studentship and are supervising a student on this project |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have written a PhD studentship and are supervising a student on this project |
| Impact | PhD studentship funding "SOMAmer technology to diagnose coronavirus infection: veterinary and zoonotic implications" |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with the Babraham Institute on scRNA seq analysis |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We charscterised in depth the local and systemic immune responses following infleunza infection or immunisation in the pig influenza model |
| Collaborator Contribution | Arianne Richards from the Babraham Institute will perform scRNA seq analysis on samples from infection and immunisation influenza studies. |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaborative project between The Pirbright Institute, UK and Miyazaki University, Japan |
| Organisation | University of Miyazaki |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of expertise in foot-and-mouth virus research; use of high containment facilities to perform experiments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in tetramer production, analysis and provided financially towards a travel bursary. |
| Impact | The protection afforded by most foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines depends to a large extent on humoral immunity, dictating the need to characterise the underlying mechanisms that mediate antibody production. To address this, we have developed novel major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) class II tetramers to identify antigen specific CD4+ T-cells that are present following vaccination against FMD. To date, we have used a MHC II tetramer (MHC serotype: A18) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MHC-matched cattle vaccinated against FMD (O serotype). Importantly, we have identified CD4+ T-cells that recognise 15 epitopes (identified from 137 peptides) in the FMDV structural proteins; one in VP1, five in VP2, six in VP3 and three in VP4. This work will further our understanding of the repertoire of capsid epitopes recognised by the host's immune response following FMD vaccination and facilitate the identification of new correlates of protection. A first manuscript is in the final stages of preparation and will be submitted shortly. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaborative studentship PPRV |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Department | School of Veterinary Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Practical laboratory work and in vivo animal studies carried out |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input in scientific remit of studentship, training of student, use of facilities and lab |
| Impact | DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01471-18 Thesis: The immune response to live, attenuated peste des petits ruminants virus vaccines |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Commonwealth Scholarship. Molecular determinants impacting avian influenza H9N2 virus evolution, replication fitness and virulence |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I develop a research project proposal in which we are investigating how evolutionary changes in the H9N2 avian influenza virus modulate virus fitness and virulence in chickens. This PhD studentship project was funded by Commonwealth scholarship commission for 3 years. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborating Partner Dr Nicola Lewis at Royal Veterinary College is a co-supervisor of the PhD student Thusitha Karunarathna. she provide necessary guidance to achieve prescribed objectives of this project. |
| Impact | The project is at its initial stage. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Cost effectiveness of interventions for the control of avian Influenza virus infections in poultry in Pakistan. |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Capacity building, provision of training, sharing research samples and methods |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of Field data on prevalence of influenza viruses in poultry production systems . |
| Impact | 1. Mapping of the broiler production industry and trade patterns in Pakistan presented by Hassaan bin Aslam (PhD student) |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Cost effectiveness of interventions for the control of avian Influenza virus infections in poultry in Pakistan. |
| Organisation | University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences |
| Department | Department of Microbiology |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Capacity building, provision of training, sharing research samples and methods |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of Field data on prevalence of influenza viruses in poultry production systems . |
| Impact | 1. Mapping of the broiler production industry and trade patterns in Pakistan presented by Hassaan bin Aslam (PhD student) |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DNA encoded monoclonal antibodies. |
| Organisation | INOVIO Pharmaceuticals |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have established the pig influenza model to test monoclonal antibody delivery platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Inovio provided the DNA encoded antibodies. |
| Impact | Joint manuscript submitted |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Development of a bivalent PRRS/Nipah virus vaccine |
| Organisation | National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV and Nipah virus vaccine research |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in genetically engineering PRRSV |
| Impact | Too early. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines |
| Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of research led to incite new collaborations with following partners in UK, Vietnam and Pakistan. Together with partners we apply for the collaborative research grant to BBSRC entitled "Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines". That led to further improvement avian influenza virus vaccines and diagnostics and a number of research publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are evaluating the potency and efficacy of vaccines in countries where the disease is enzootic in poultry. |
| Impact | 1. Peacock TP, Benton DJ, Sadeyen J-R, Chang P, Sealy JE.,d, Bryant JE, Martin SR., Shelton H, McCauley JW, Barclay WS, Iqbal M (2017) Variability in H9N2 haemagglutinin receptor binding preference and pH of fusion. Emerging Microbes & Infections 6, e11 2. Peacock T, Reddy K, James J, Adamiak B, Barclay W, Shelton H, Iqbal M (2016). Antigenic mapping of an H9N2 avian influenza virus reveals two discrete antigenic sites and a novel mechanism of immune escape. Scientific Reports 5: 18745. doi: 10.1038/srep18745. 3. Thuy DM, Peacock TP., Bich VTN, . Iqbal M, Juliet E. Bryant (2016). Prevalence and diversity of H9N2 avian influenza in chickens of Northern Vietnam, 2014. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 44: 530-540 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | School of Public Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of research led to incite new collaborations with following partners in UK, Vietnam and Pakistan. Together with partners we apply for the collaborative research grant to BBSRC entitled "Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines". That led to further improvement avian influenza virus vaccines and diagnostics and a number of research publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are evaluating the potency and efficacy of vaccines in countries where the disease is enzootic in poultry. |
| Impact | 1. Peacock TP, Benton DJ, Sadeyen J-R, Chang P, Sealy JE.,d, Bryant JE, Martin SR., Shelton H, McCauley JW, Barclay WS, Iqbal M (2017) Variability in H9N2 haemagglutinin receptor binding preference and pH of fusion. Emerging Microbes & Infections 6, e11 2. Peacock T, Reddy K, James J, Adamiak B, Barclay W, Shelton H, Iqbal M (2016). Antigenic mapping of an H9N2 avian influenza virus reveals two discrete antigenic sites and a novel mechanism of immune escape. Scientific Reports 5: 18745. doi: 10.1038/srep18745. 3. Thuy DM, Peacock TP., Bich VTN, . Iqbal M, Juliet E. Bryant (2016). Prevalence and diversity of H9N2 avian influenza in chickens of Northern Vietnam, 2014. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 44: 530-540 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines |
| Organisation | National Agricultural Research Centre |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of research led to incite new collaborations with following partners in UK, Vietnam and Pakistan. Together with partners we apply for the collaborative research grant to BBSRC entitled "Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines". That led to further improvement avian influenza virus vaccines and diagnostics and a number of research publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are evaluating the potency and efficacy of vaccines in countries where the disease is enzootic in poultry. |
| Impact | 1. Peacock TP, Benton DJ, Sadeyen J-R, Chang P, Sealy JE.,d, Bryant JE, Martin SR., Shelton H, McCauley JW, Barclay WS, Iqbal M (2017) Variability in H9N2 haemagglutinin receptor binding preference and pH of fusion. Emerging Microbes & Infections 6, e11 2. Peacock T, Reddy K, James J, Adamiak B, Barclay W, Shelton H, Iqbal M (2016). Antigenic mapping of an H9N2 avian influenza virus reveals two discrete antigenic sites and a novel mechanism of immune escape. Scientific Reports 5: 18745. doi: 10.1038/srep18745. 3. Thuy DM, Peacock TP., Bich VTN, . Iqbal M, Juliet E. Bryant (2016). Prevalence and diversity of H9N2 avian influenza in chickens of Northern Vietnam, 2014. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 44: 530-540 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam (OUCRU) |
| Country | Viet Nam |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of research led to incite new collaborations with following partners in UK, Vietnam and Pakistan. Together with partners we apply for the collaborative research grant to BBSRC entitled "Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines". That led to further improvement avian influenza virus vaccines and diagnostics and a number of research publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are evaluating the potency and efficacy of vaccines in countries where the disease is enzootic in poultry. |
| Impact | 1. Peacock TP, Benton DJ, Sadeyen J-R, Chang P, Sealy JE.,d, Bryant JE, Martin SR., Shelton H, McCauley JW, Barclay WS, Iqbal M (2017) Variability in H9N2 haemagglutinin receptor binding preference and pH of fusion. Emerging Microbes & Infections 6, e11 2. Peacock T, Reddy K, James J, Adamiak B, Barclay W, Shelton H, Iqbal M (2016). Antigenic mapping of an H9N2 avian influenza virus reveals two discrete antigenic sites and a novel mechanism of immune escape. Scientific Reports 5: 18745. doi: 10.1038/srep18745. 3. Thuy DM, Peacock TP., Bich VTN, . Iqbal M, Juliet E. Bryant (2016). Prevalence and diversity of H9N2 avian influenza in chickens of Northern Vietnam, 2014. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 44: 530-540 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines |
| Organisation | University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of research led to incite new collaborations with following partners in UK, Vietnam and Pakistan. Together with partners we apply for the collaborative research grant to BBSRC entitled "Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines". That led to further improvement avian influenza virus vaccines and diagnostics and a number of research publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are evaluating the potency and efficacy of vaccines in countries where the disease is enzootic in poultry. |
| Impact | 1. Peacock TP, Benton DJ, Sadeyen J-R, Chang P, Sealy JE.,d, Bryant JE, Martin SR., Shelton H, McCauley JW, Barclay WS, Iqbal M (2017) Variability in H9N2 haemagglutinin receptor binding preference and pH of fusion. Emerging Microbes & Infections 6, e11 2. Peacock T, Reddy K, James J, Adamiak B, Barclay W, Shelton H, Iqbal M (2016). Antigenic mapping of an H9N2 avian influenza virus reveals two discrete antigenic sites and a novel mechanism of immune escape. Scientific Reports 5: 18745. doi: 10.1038/srep18745. 3. Thuy DM, Peacock TP., Bich VTN, . Iqbal M, Juliet E. Bryant (2016). Prevalence and diversity of H9N2 avian influenza in chickens of Northern Vietnam, 2014. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 44: 530-540 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of tetramers in the Babraham pig model |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed the aerosol delivery method of vaccine and provided material (spleen, BAL and blood) from inbred animals (Babraham pigs) following immunisation with the candidate universal vaccine, S-FLU. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developed porcine influenza specific class I tetramers and provided the epitope map of Babrahams S-Flu responses to NP, M1, M2, PB1 and PB2 that could be presented by SLA-1 or SLA-2 Grew pig T cell clones for the first time in 30 years. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary - immunology, virology, protein chemistry. Paper not yet published |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Distributed Bio - Gates foundation funding - universal influenza vaccine |
| Organisation | Distributed Bio. |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Pirbright has provided expert advice to the design of adjuvant and challenge studies in appropriate animal models for human influenza vaccine trials. Pirbright is facilitating these studies in line with UK home office requirements and good scientific practice. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Distributed Bio have developed a novel vaccine that is hoped to be a candidate for a human universal influenza virus vaccine. |
| Impact | Funding from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation as part of the Grand challenges - Universal vaccine for influenza for the animal studies involving Pirbright and Distributed Bio |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Alex Schock, APHA - Detemining the prevalence and sequences of IBDV in vaccinated chicken flocks in the UK |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We will determine whether samples are positive for IBDV. If they are positive, we will amplify the hypervariable region of the capsid by PCR and send for Sanger Sequencing |
| Collaborator Contribution | APHA will obtain samples from Veterinary Practices and perform histology. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Pirbright Internal Seed Award, £10,000) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Carol Cardona, University of Minnesota- avian influenza virus challenge of IBDV or mock-infected chickens |
| Organisation | University of Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will challenge birds that have been exposed to IBDV, or mock exposed, with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains to determine how IBDV-mediated immunosuppression impacts upon HPAI infection in chickens. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Cardona's group will challenge birds that have been exposed to IBDV, or mock exposed, with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strains to determine how IBDV-mediated immunosuppression impacts upon LPAI infection in chickens. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Grant Ref: BB/T008806/1) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Caroline Denesvere |
| Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
| Department | INRA Loire Valley Centre |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Worked together to establish a collaboration on development of feather follicular stem cell lines as a platform for the generation of cell-free vaccine against Marek's disease virus. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided expertise on cell free Marek's disease and microscopic evaluation of cells generating the virus. |
| Impact | Generation of data leading to a successful BBSRC IPA grant application |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Dr David Welchman, APHA -Detemining the prevalence and sequences of IBDV in vaccinated chicken flocks in the UK |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We wiil determine whether samples are positive for IBDV. If they are positive, we will amplify the hypervariable region of the capsid by PCR and send for Sanger Sequencing |
| Collaborator Contribution | APHA will obtain samples from Veterinary Practices and perform histology. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Pirbright Internal Seed Award, £10,000) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Finn Grey, The Roslin Institute- Identifying genes essential for the replicaiton of IBDV and IBV in vitro |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will conduct a CRISPR screen and identify genes that are essential for IBDV replication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Finn Grey's group will aid in the CRISPR screen |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining a PhD studentship |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Helena Maier, The Pirbright Institute - Identifying genes essential for the replicaiton of IBDV and IBV in vitro |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will conduct a CRISPR screen and identify genes that are essential for IBDV replication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Helena Maier's group will aid in the CRISPR screen and identify genes that are essential for IBV replication |
| Impact | We have been successful in obtaining a PhD studentship |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Holly Shelton, The Pirbright Institute- avian influenza virus challenge of IBDV or mock-infected chickens |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will expose birds to IBDV, compared to mock controls |
| Collaborator Contribution | Holly will train my group in conducting studies with avian influenza viruses and, together, we will challenge birds with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains to determine how IBDV-mediated immunosuppression impacts upon HPAI infection in chickens. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Grant Ref: BB/T008806/1) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Liam Morrison |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis is single cattle B cell antibody sequences |
| Collaborator Contribution | Single cattle B cell antibody sequences |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Michael Skinner, Imperial College London |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Primary Care and Public Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We aim to compare the host transcriptional response of primary chicken B cells infected with different strains of IBDV of varying virulence. We have the specialist reagents and expertise in house that are required to culture primary chicken B cells, and we have access to different strains of IBDV. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Michael Skinner and his team at Imperial College London have the expertise and facilities to generate and analyse RNA-Seq data in order to determine host transcriptional responses. This is required in order to complete the aim of the project. |
| Impact | Further funding: PhD studentship (£102,800) - Dr Andrew Broadbent at The Pirbright Institute and Dr Michael Skinner at Imperial College London are joint supervisors for a PhD student working on this project. Further Funding: Houghton Trust (£8,000)- Dr Andrew Broadbent was awarded a Houghton Trust Small Research Grant to contribute to this project. Further funding: NC3Rs (Grant Ref: NC/R001138/1) |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Dr Rachel Edgar, Imperial College London- defining the circadian clock in chicken cells and how this impacts upon viral replication |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | we will supply sequences of chicken clock genes and chicken cells and challenge synchronised chicken cells with IBDV and perform in vivo experiments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Edagr's group will synchronise chicken cells and characterise the oscillatory expression of chicken clock genes. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Houghton Trust, £4,500) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | EBI Culicoides genome project |
| Organisation | EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL - EBI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Performed experiments and provided material for Sequencing and genome build of the Culicoides genome project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sequencing and genome build for Culicoides genome project. |
| Impact | Publication and public release of genome data for Culicoides genome project |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Efficacy of a candidate universal influenza vaccine, S-FLU. |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Radcliffe Department of Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tested the immunogenicity and efficacy of a candidate universal influenza vaccine, S-FLU, in pigs. For the first time we demonstrated that S-FLU when administered by aerosol can reduce viral load in nasal swabs and lung in pigs after influenza virus challenge. We have shown that the most efficient way to administer this vaccine is by aerosol. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Alain Townsend has developed the S-FLU vaccine. |
| Impact | The most efficient way to induce immune response in the lung is after aerosol delivery of LAIV vaccines in pigs. The most efficient way to induce cross-protective immunity is by aerosol delivery of S-FLU to the lungs of pigs |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Enhancing protective efficacy of avian influenza vaccines through targeted delivery of protective antigens to chicken immune cells |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Department of Zoology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Enhancing protective efficacy of avian influenza vaccines through targeted delivery of protective antigens to chicken immune cells ( PhD student training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training of next generation of Scientists (PhD student training). |
| Impact | Training of next generation of Scientists (PhD student training). |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Establishment of a novel poultry vaccine platform inducing rapid and strong immunity through targeted delivery of antigens to chicken immune cells |
| Organisation | MSD Animal Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The research focus is to develop next-generation of poultry vaccines that induce rapid and strong immune responses in chickens. The candidate vaccine constricts will be developed at the Pirbright Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborating partner "MSD Animal Health" will evaluate the potency and efficacy for registration and feasibility for commercial production. |
| Impact | Based on the project preliminary data a new project was developed entitled Protecting poultry from avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and Gumboro disease with a single dose of a multivalent vaccine". This project further strengthened the collaborative research work with MSD Animal Health. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Evaluate the potential of AstraZeneca's sialic acid tag technology for treating influenza viruses with Fc molecules |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Department | Parasite Immunology Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Established partnership to investigate the antiviral properties of novel antiviral ( fragment-crystallisable (Fc) molecules) compounds that potentially block influenza virus infection. These compounds will be used to test their antiviral activity against avian influenza and Newcastle Disease virus that are causing sever economic looses to the poultry industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partners have developed these antiviral compounds and showed that these compounds bids to specific cell surface receptors that are required by the virus to bind to and enter into the cell to cause infection. |
| Impact | Project is just started |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine candidate immunogenicity in pigs |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in evaluating vaccine immunogenicity in pigs |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided COVID-19 vaccine candidates |
| Impact | Joint publication on the evaluation of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-020-00221-3). Data included in in the pre-clinical dossier submitted to regulators (e.g., European Medicines Agency) and supported the successful Marketing Authorisation application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine candidate immunogenicity in pigs |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in evaluating vaccine immunogenicity in pigs |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided COVID-19 vaccine candidates |
| Impact | Joint publication on the evaluation of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-020-00221-3). Data included in in the pre-clinical dossier submitted to regulators (e.g., European Medicines Agency) and supported the successful Marketing Authorisation application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| 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 | Evaluation of adjuvanted liposome delivery of PRRSV glycoproteins |
| Organisation | University at Buffalo |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PRRSV immunology and vaccine research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of adjuvanted liposomes for display of PRRSV glycoprotein. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Evaluation of artificial cell membranes for delivery of PRRSV antigens |
| Organisation | ACM Biolabs |
| Country | Singapore |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ability to evaluate the immunogenicity of artificial cell membranes (ACMs) for delivery of PRRSV antigens |
| Collaborator Contribution | To use their patented platform technology to produce a panel of ACMs embedded with different PRRSV envelope proteins |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Evaluation of bovine herpesvirus-4 as a vaccine vector for pigs |
| Organisation | University of Parma |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in porcine vaccinology/immunology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in the generation of recombinant bovine herpesvirus-4 (BoHV-4) vectors expressing heterologous antigens |
| Impact | We demonstrated that immunisation of pigs with recombinant BoHV-4 vectors expressing Nipah virus glycoproteins are highly immunogenic in pigs. Most promising and as hypothesised, were the potent CD4 and CD8 T cell responses which were an order of greater than those induced by other viral vaccine vectors. These data have led to the external funding of projects by two companies to evaluate BoHV-4 vectors in the context of other porcine diseases. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibitors as molecular adjuvants for improved PRRSV vaccines |
| Organisation | Leidos |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV immunology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Patented immune checkpoint inhibitors |
| Impact | No yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Evaluation of mRNA vectored vaccines in pigs |
| Organisation | University of Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in porcine immunology/vaccinology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in mRNA vaccines |
| Impact | We evaluated in pigs the immunogenicity an mRNA vector encoding a Nipah virus glycoprotein. This vaccine formulation induced high virus neutralising antibody titres (comparable with protein subunit in adjuvant) and T cell responses (comparable with viral vectors). We also utilised mRNA immunised pigs to isolate Nipah virus neutralising monoclonal antibodies. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Evaluation of multivalent viral hemorrhagic fever vaccine candidates immunogenicity in pigs |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supported the pre-clinical development of multivalent viral hemorrhagic fever vaccine candidates by evaluating their immunogenicity in pigs |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conceived and produced vaccine candidates |
| Impact | Still ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Evaluation of porcine cytomegalovirus as a viral vaccine vector |
| Organisation | University of Plymouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PRRSV model and vaccine candidate antigens. Expertise in porcine T cell immunology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in exploiting herpesviruses as vaccine vectors |
| Impact | not yet |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Evaluation of solid dose vaccines for livestock |
| Organisation | Enesi Pharma |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV and vaccine evaluation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in vaccine formulation |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration between formulation scientist and viral immunologists. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Evaluation of the efficacy of antiviral nanoparticles (AVNPs) against PRRSV |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV and in vitro model to assess efficacy of AVNPs |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in materials science |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of a Nipah virus neutralising monoclonal antibody |
| Organisation | Government of Canada |
| Department | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in Nipah virus immunology, vaccinology and antibody discovery. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in animal models of Nipah virus infection. |
| Impact | Work ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Evaluation of virus-imprinted polymers as synthetic neutralisng antibodies |
| Organisation | University of Lancashire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Model viruses and systems to evaluate the ability of molecularly-imprinted polymers to neutralise virus infectivity |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in molecularly-imprinted polymers |
| Impact | Wellcome Trust Seed Award |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Exploiting novel porcine macrophage cell lines and ASFV virulence factors |
| Organisation | University of Plymouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My team has developed gene-deleted African swine fever viruses in order to study the role of these virus genes in virus replication and modulation of host responses. These gene-deleted viruses are also being evaluated as candidate live attenuated vaccines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Plymouth provided novel porcine macrophage cell lines to evaluate their susceptibility to African swine fever virus (ASFV) replication and as tools for ASFV research, vaccine development and diagnosis. These cell lines are being further characterized and developed by our partners at University of Plymouth. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: Virology, Immunology, Cell biology, Vaccinology |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| 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 | Factor H and influenza virus |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Department | Brunel Arts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team are hosting a PhD student from Brunel University to facilitate the investigation of any interaction between influenza virus and complement factor H. We are providing reagents, expertise in handling influenza virus and advice on the scientific hypothesis of the research programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Brunel university initiated the project and provided reagents including antibodies and methods for purification human co-factor H protein. They also provide funding for this PhD studentship. |
| Impact | No outcomes as yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Gene expression signatures in lungs after delivery of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | In order to test candidate mAbs and delivery platforms, we have established a reproducible and robust pig influenza challenge model and identified a protective human HA1 specific mAb, 2-12C, which can be used as a standard to benchmark other mAb candidates and delivery platforms. We provided NIH with lung tissues from the 2-12C treated animals to analyse the gene signatures associated with protection |
| Collaborator Contribution | The NIH collaborators will test the gene expression in the lungs of 2-12C treated pigs and compare to mouse and ferret gene signatures. NIH team sequenced the virus after 2-12C treatment to determine if viral escape variants were generated. |
| Impact | Joint manuscript submitted |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Genetic mapping of vector competence in Culicoides sonorensis. |
| Organisation | EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL - EBI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The primary deliverable of this project will be the elucidation of the genetic basis of vector competence of C. sonorensis for bluetongue virus (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). It will also generate the first accurately annotated genome of a Culicoides species worldwide. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Horizon Discovery Ltd Cambridge Research Park, United Kingdom |
| Organisation | Horizon Discovery Group plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Verify IFITM knock-out cell by qPCR and immuno-blotting. Verification of further knock-out cell lines by DNA sequencing, immuno-blotting and qPCR Cell infection with Avian Influenza Viruses Assess the viral titre of cells infected with Influenza Viruses in K/O and wildtype cells. Quantitative analysis of viral infection in IFITM K/O cells Demonstrate increased AIV viral titres at lab scale and estimation of what this may equate to with respect to vaccine dose yields. Analysis of IFITM K/O cell lines permissivity to a range of additional animal viruses (Relevant to the LVIF). Milestone 7: Demonstrate permissivity increased and viral titres for a range of LVIF relevant viruses in the edited cell lines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Develop a CRISPR/cas9 gene editing system to specifically target the chIFITM locus in avian cell culture |
| Impact | Grant funding |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | ILRI Research Collaboration (Kenya, March 2017) |
| Organisation | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of ideas and samples for indigenous breeds of livestock |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed samples for analysis. |
| Impact | Analysis of indigenous breed genomic sequences for Immune function genes. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Identification of conserved B-cell epitopes of highly pathogenic coronaviruses for broadspectrum immunotherapy and vaccine design. |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have performed experiments to generate preliminary data for a collaborative grant application, contributed to the writing of the grant proposal and responded to reviewers comments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators have performed experiments to generate preliminary data for a collaborative grant application, contributed to the writing of the grant proposal and responded to reviewers comments. |
| Impact | Submission of proposal entitled "Identification of conserved B-cell epitopes of highly pathogenic coronaviruses for broadspectrum immunotherapy and vaccine design" to the "One Health Approaches to Accelerate Vaccine Development" call that forms part of the UK government's commitment to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in October 2017. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Identification of conserved B-cell epitopes of highly pathogenic coronaviruses for broadspectrum immunotherapy and vaccine design. |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We have performed experiments to generate preliminary data for a collaborative grant application, contributed to the writing of the grant proposal and responded to reviewers comments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators have performed experiments to generate preliminary data for a collaborative grant application, contributed to the writing of the grant proposal and responded to reviewers comments. |
| Impact | Submission of proposal entitled "Identification of conserved B-cell epitopes of highly pathogenic coronaviruses for broadspectrum immunotherapy and vaccine design" to the "One Health Approaches to Accelerate Vaccine Development" call that forms part of the UK government's commitment to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in October 2017. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Identification of genetic markers in the haemagglutinin glycoprotein critical for antigenic activity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses. |
| Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | d provision of reagents and virus samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Technical training to PhD students and use of research facilities |
| Impact | (1) Talk: Avian influenza virus evolution: immune escape, increase in zoonotic potential and fitness in poultry. Presented at "Prevention and Control Techniques for Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry", 27th 29th August 2017, Beijing, China. (2) Impact of avian influenza virus evolution on antigenicity and zoonotic infection potential. Presented at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan on 23rd August 2017. (3). Molecular determinants of H9N2 avian influenza virus influencing antigenicity and receptor binding. Presented at CERAD (Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases), 3rd Symposium Recent Advances in Avian Disease Research. 31st August - 1st September 2017 at the Harbour Hotel, Alexandra Terrace, Guildford, Surrey, UK. (4) Overview of ongoing research on Poultry diseases in United Kingdom. Presented as at International poultry Stakeholders work on poultry biosecurity in Sri Lanka from 26th February to 3rd March 2017. (5). Evolutionary fitness of avian influenza viruses and development of improved vaccines and diagnostics. Presented as invited seminar speaker at RVC (Hawkshead Campus), UK. 19th October 2016. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Identification of genetic markers in the haemagglutinin glycoprotein critical for antigenic activity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses. |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Section of Virology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | d provision of reagents and virus samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Technical training to PhD students and use of research facilities |
| Impact | (1) Talk: Avian influenza virus evolution: immune escape, increase in zoonotic potential and fitness in poultry. Presented at "Prevention and Control Techniques for Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry", 27th 29th August 2017, Beijing, China. (2) Impact of avian influenza virus evolution on antigenicity and zoonotic infection potential. Presented at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan on 23rd August 2017. (3). Molecular determinants of H9N2 avian influenza virus influencing antigenicity and receptor binding. Presented at CERAD (Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases), 3rd Symposium Recent Advances in Avian Disease Research. 31st August - 1st September 2017 at the Harbour Hotel, Alexandra Terrace, Guildford, Surrey, UK. (4) Overview of ongoing research on Poultry diseases in United Kingdom. Presented as at International poultry Stakeholders work on poultry biosecurity in Sri Lanka from 26th February to 3rd March 2017. (5). Evolutionary fitness of avian influenza viruses and development of improved vaccines and diagnostics. Presented as invited seminar speaker at RVC (Hawkshead Campus), UK. 19th October 2016. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Identification of sows with antibodies broadly neutralising PRRSV |
| Organisation | University of Lleida |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV immunology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to large numbers of sows routinely vaccinated and exposed to PRRSV |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Immunogenicity study of the matrix 2 ectodomain (M2e) proteins of the avian influenza viruses displayed on nodavirus-like particles. |
| Organisation | Putra Malaysia University |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | provided training and protocols for the development of subunit vaccines against avian influenza viruses |
| Collaborator Contribution | increased interaction with partners and exchange of data on field outbreaks |
| Impact | Joint publication entitled: Virus-like particle vaccines: A prospective panacea against an avian influenza panzootic. Vaccines 8 (4), 694 |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Influenza and co-factor H protein |
| Organisation | Leibniz Association |
| Department | Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are screening influenza virus interaction with co-factor H proteins to determine the interaction interface. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Christine Skerka has provided fragment factor H peptides to facilitate our mapping studies of the interaction surface with influenza viruses. |
| Impact | No outcomes as yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Interferon stimulated genes |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosted meetings and carried out preliminary experiments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed reagents and expertise |
| Impact | Preliminary data was used to support an MSc project. This has since led to a publication and a PhD project. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Investigating antigenic determinants inducing stronger and broader cross-protective immunity among H5 avian influenza viruses |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Department | Veterinary Basic Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overarching aims of the proposed research are to improve controls against H5 subtype of avian influenza viruses infecting poultry by investigating underlying mechanisms that define how vaccines renders effectiveness and develop novel approaches enhancing the effectiveness of H5 avian influenza vaccines. We recently generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognise a variety of different clades of H5 viruses. Propagation of AIV in eggs or cultured cells together with mAbs drives virus to escape from mAbs neutralisation activity. These classical virus neutralization assays (VN) followed by HA gene sequence analysis allowed us to defined the role of amino acid substitutions that are associated with evasion of antibody neutralization through emergence of antigenic variants and failure of vaccine efficacy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | provided intellectual input for achieving prescribed objectives of this work. |
| Impact | Talk entitled "Molecular determinants for antigenicity and vaccine efficacy of avian influenza viruses" was presented at Newton Agham Researcher Links Workshop " Novel Vaccines and Diagnostic Technologies against Emerging and re-emerging Veterinary Pathogens" at Rizal Park Hotel, Manila, Philippines, 4-7 February 2019. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Investigating antigenic determinants inducing stronger and broader cross-protective immunity among H5 avian influenza viruses. |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We developed research programme to characterise diversity of antigenic epitopes induce protective immunity in chickens against H5 subtypes of avian influenza viruses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborating partner Dr Nicola Lewis at Royal Veterinary College provide advise to on cartography programme to visualize the antigenic similarity or difference among different strains of influenza viruses. |
| Impact | The work under this collaborative determined the antigenic differences among different clades of H5 avian influenza viruses circulating in birds. This project is multi-disciplinary. our laboratory mainly work on virology and immunology part of the project and we seek help on computer modeling part from the collaborating partner Dr Nicola Lewis. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Investigating the role of the SH protein of RSV in the duration of immunity |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided initial data supporting the hypothesis that the small hydrophobic protein of bovine respiratory syncytial virus regulates the host's immune response by modulating the transcription factors NF-kB and STAT1 in bovine cells |
| Collaborator Contribution | Based on our results, Imperial has began investigating the role of the small hydrophobic protein of human respiratory syncytial virus on human cells. |
| Impact | Publication in progress titled "Regulation of the B cell activating factor BAFF by the small hydrophobic protein of respiratory syncytial virus". |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | JS - Production of monoclonal antibodies that recognise FMDV VP4 from mouse spleens |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | VLPs displaying the N-terminal 15 amino acids of FMDV were designed and produced at The Pirbright Institute and then mice were immunised with them. The spleens of the immunised mice were harvested and splenocytes stored. The response to the VP4 sequence was checked by ELISA and the mouse with the best response was selected to send the splenocytes for monoclonal production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators took the splenocytes obtained from the mouse experiments and carried out the fusions. They then screened the supernatants for positive wells that detected the VP4 sequence. |
| Impact | Positive wells have been identified indicating some monoclonals that are specific for VP4 have been generated. These will be further screened for ability to recognise virus and to neutralise infection. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Janet Daly & Stephen Dunham- PI3K pathway and influenza |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | School of Veterinary Medicine and Science Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Preliminary data was produced by Pirbright using reverse genetics of avian influenza viruses to secure a 50:50 funded PhD studentship that will commence in October 2020 entitled "Understanding the importance of the PI3K pathway in modulating influenza virus replication in chickens and ducks". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preliminary data was produced by University of Nottingham using PI3K p85 subunit pulldowns to secure a 50:50 funded PhD studentship that will commence in October 2020 entitled "Understanding the importance of the PI3K pathway in modulating influenza virus replication in chickens and ducks". |
| Impact | Funding for a PhD studentship entitled "Understanding the importance of the PI3K pathway in modulating influenza virus replication in chickens and ducks". |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Molecular epidemiology of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in Vietnam and Pakistan. |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of technical ideas, reagents and samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of field samples and data on avian influenza infection in poultry. This diseases is endemic in poultry in Pakistan. |
| Impact | (1) Increased receptor binding avidity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses is associated with escape from antibody based immunity and enhanced zoonotic potential. presented by Joshua Sealy at GARAD and ZELS conferences in Haneoi, Vietnam from 17-27 January 2018. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Molecular epidemiology of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in Vietnam and Pakistan. |
| Organisation | University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences |
| Department | Department of Microbiology |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of technical ideas, reagents and samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of field samples and data on avian influenza infection in poultry. This diseases is endemic in poultry in Pakistan. |
| Impact | (1) Increased receptor binding avidity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses is associated with escape from antibody based immunity and enhanced zoonotic potential. presented by Joshua Sealy at GARAD and ZELS conferences in Haneoi, Vietnam from 17-27 January 2018. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Morphological differences of Influenza A viruses |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of research methods and reagents |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Exchange of reagents and Research methods.(2) training of PhD students and Postdoctoral Scientists (3) use of research facilities |
| Impact | Research output were presented at Avian Influenza A virus budding morphology: spherical or filamentous? presented at The European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI) Riga, Latvia. 10 to 13 September 2017 (2) .Budding morphology of avian influenza A viruses. Microbiology Society, annual Conference 2017, 306 April, EICC, Edinburggh, UK |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Mucosally Associated Invariant T cells (MAIT) in pig influenza model |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Identified MAIT cells in pig Influenza model. Provide samples from infected and immunised protected animals |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide expertise in characterising MAIT: development of tetramer; Zell scanner technology allowing high resolution studies of cell phenotype and functions |
| Impact | Joint PhD studentship with Paul Klenerman, University of Oxford |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Nanoparticulate antigen delivery systems |
| Organisation | University College Hospital |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in disease models, vaccine antigens and immune response evaluation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in nanoparticulate formulations |
| Impact | Several joint publications |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Next-generation PRRSV vaccines |
| Organisation | Eco Animal Health Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Know how in terms of genetically manipulating PRRSV and evaluating PRRSV vaccines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Financial contribution and know how in terms of developing a commercial vaccine. |
| Impact | Too early. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Next-generation PRRSV vaccines |
| Organisation | Huvepharma |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRSV virology and immunology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding |
| Impact | Too early, project ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Novel PRRS and swine influenza vaccines |
| Organisation | National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in PRRS immunology and vaccine evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Novel vaccine strains and SE Asian field strains |
| Impact | Collaborative grant proposal funded under the BBSRC Newton Fund UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PARTNERSHIP: Nanoparticle Vaccines Against Emerging Poultry Infections |
| Organisation | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Department | Department of Pathobiological Sciences |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We established a joint project with School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. My team will contribute in the development of Novel Target antigen delivery vaccines that selectively delivers antigens to the chicken immune cells and induces faster and stronger immune responses in vaccinated chickens. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner developed a novel DNA nano-vaccine platform. This partnership will merge both technologies to enhance both the potency and delivery systems for poultry vaccines. |
| Impact | The partnership submitted a joint research grant proposal to USDA-NIFA-AFRI (Program A1181 Agricultural Biosecurity) entitled "Partnership: Nanoparticle Vaccines Against Emerging Poultry Infections". This grant proposal has been approved by the funders. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PRRS and Influenza co-nfection studies |
| Organisation | Government of Thailand |
| Department | National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Pirbright team of 4 scientists with expertise in immunology and animal care visited Thailand in July 2018 to train Thai colleagues to perform animal experiments (Chiang Mai) and analyse immune responses by ELISPOT and Flow cytometry (Bangkok). This provided Thailand with trained personnel and expertise in testing vaccines in pigs. As a result of the joint work, the Chiang Mai animal facility is currently being renovated. Development of such an animal facility will promote the production and testing of more vaccines by Thai scientists. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our Thai colleagues provided us with local Thai PRRS and Influenza virus strains which we use in our co-infection studies. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnering with National Taiwan University |
| Organisation | National Taiwan University |
| Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have prepared and submitted an application for a BBSRC-Taiwan Partnering Award to study "Assembly of Recombinant Infectious Bronchitis Virus and Determination of Antigenic Sites that Confer Hemagglutination Activity". |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners conceived the project and got in contact about submitting an application for funding together. |
| Impact | An application has been made for a BBSRC-Taiwan Partnering Award in November 2018. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Paul Digard - The Roslin Insititute |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We generated constructs that express PB1-F2 from a variety of avian influenza strains in eukaryotic expression plasmids. We generated Chimera PB1-F2 expression plasmids where the C-terminus of the PB1-F2 are switched between strains. Using these plasmids we have determined the localization and antagonist activity toward the IFN beta signaling pathway and NF-kb signaling pathway in human and chicken cells. We have therefore provided reagents and intellectual input to the collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators have used these plasmids in there well defined stability assays to determine sequence specific effects on this characteristic. Intellectual input and expertise in a particular assay were made by these collaborators. |
| Impact | We have successfully published some of this work; "The cellular localization of avian influenza virus PB1-F2 protein alters the magnitude of IFN2 promoter and NF?B-dependent promoter antagonism in chicken cells." doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001220. We have an ongoing joint PhD studentship in this area. This collaboration remains current and active. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Policy advice to DEFRA (JH) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Reviewed outline policy to be proposed to government. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Reviewed outline policy to be proposed to government. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Pre-exposure influenza model and effect of routes of immunization on vaccine efficacy |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Nuffield Department of Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have developed the pre-exposure swine influenza model, the expertise to target different parts of the respiratory tract and the tools to assess the local and systemic immune responses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team of Professor Sarah Gilbert provided the viral vectored vaccines expressing influenza nucleoprotein, matrix protein and neuraminidase. |
| Impact | We have established a pre-exposure influenza pig challenge model, which closely mimics the situation in humans, who are commonly exposed to different influenza viruses. We showed that ChAdOx NP-M1-NA induces immune response in the face of pre-existing immunity , which is highly relevant to the situation in pigs and human where many vaccinees are pre-exposed to respiratory infections. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Professor Benedikt Kaufer |
| Organisation | Free University of Berlin |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Providing knowledge and methodologies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing reagents and methodologies to perform experiments. |
| Impact | Two publications from this collaboration: Gurung A, Kamble N, Kaufer BB, Pathan A, Shahriar Behboudi. Association of Marek's Disease induced immunosuppression with activation of a novel regulatory T cells in chickens, PLoS Pathogens, 2017, 13 (12), e1006745. Boodhoo N, Kamble N, Kaufer BB, Shahriar Behboudi. Replication of Marek's disease virus is dependent on de novo synthesis of fatty acid and Prostaglandin E2. J Virol. 2019 Apr 10 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Professor Helen Sang,The Roslin Institute - GFP1-10 expressing transgenic chickens |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have developed IBDV tagged to GFP11 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Helen Sang's group at the Roslin Institute have developed transcgenic chicken lines that constitutively express GFP1-10 in every cell. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Grant Ref: BB/S014594/1) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Professor Jim Kaufman |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided information on CD4 T cell epitopes derived from Marek's disease virus |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided knowledge and information on assessing peptide binding to chicken MHC molecules |
| Impact | Generation of data leading to understanding correlate of protection against Marek's disease virus. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Professor Oliver Pybus, University of Oxford / Royal Veterinary College - IBDV-like viruses in wild bird populations |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My group will characterise the immunosuppressive potential of IBDV-like viruses from wild bird populations |
| Collaborator Contribution | Oliver Pybus' group have screened a wild bird population by metagenomics shotgun sequencing to determine the prevalence of IBDV-like viruses and correlate their presence with the abundance and diversity of viral sequences identified for other viruses. |
| Impact | we have been successful in obtaining funding (Grant Ref: BB/T008806/1) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Professor Shayan Sharif, University of Guelph, Canada |
| Organisation | University of Guelph |
| Department | Department of Pathobiology |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration between my team and Professor Sharif lead to new finding in Avian immunology, specifically in understanding the effects of nutrients on antigen presenting cells and T cells of chicken. We took the lead in studying the effects of some nutrients (Vitamin D) on the function of chicken T cells, performed most of the experiments in our laboratory. Meanwhile, we participated in studying the effects of Vitamin D on antigen presenting cells of chicken by performing some key experiments because we had access to some specific reagents (monoclonal antibodies) recognizing molecules expressed on chicken antigen presenting cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Sharif team took the lead in studying the effects of Vitamin D on antigen presenting cells of chicken, and contributed to experimental plan for studying the effects on chicken T cells. |
| Impact | Two publications in 2015 and 2016: 1. Nitish Boodhoo, Shayan Sharif, Shahriar Behboudi. 1a,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 Modulates Avian T Lymphocyte Functions without Inducing CTL Unresponsiveness. PLoS One. 2016 Feb 24;11(2):e0150134 2. Bahram Shojadoost, Shahriar Behboudi, Villanueva AI, Jennifer Brisbin, Ali Ashkar, Shayan Sharif. Vitamin D3 modulates the function of chicken macrophages. Res. Vet. Sci. 2015 June, 100: 45-51 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Provision of PRRSV field strains |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Experimental heterologous PRRSV challenge model to assess the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Model to assess dendritic cell tropism of PRRS viruses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of PRRSV-1 and -2 field strains |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Provision of PRRSV field strains |
| Organisation | Kansas State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Experimental heterologous PRRSV challenge model to assess the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Model to assess dendritic cell tropism of PRRS viruses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of PRRSV-1 and -2 field strains |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Pseudoparticles of influenza for interaction studies with co-factor H |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Department | Medway School of Pharmacy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We have screened the interaction between influenza pseudotype particles that only contain the surface HA protein from influenza viruses for interaction with human co-factor H protein. We have screen pseudotype particles of multiple influenza subtypes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nigel Temperton of the viral Pseudotype Unit at the School of Pharmacy provided influenza virus pseudotype particles of multiple subtypes to allow us to screen for interaction with co-factor H protein. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Re-annotation of Marek's Disease Virus |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA |
| Department | Beltsville Agricultural Research Center |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are using bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput sequencing data in order to provide a better annotation of the genome of Marek's Disease Virus |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners are sharing their extensive expertise of the genomics of MDV, and performing experimental validations |
| Impact | No output yet |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Reporter PRRS viruses |
| Organisation | Kansas State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A new application for recombinant reporter PRRS viruses i.e. to use them as a high throughput screen for neutralizing (monoclonal) antibodies. Use as tools to assess the tropism of PRRSV for dendritic cell subsets and the functional consequences. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of plasmids encoding GFP-expressing PRRSV-1 and -2. |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Research Collaboration with Nigeria (23rd - 28th January 2017) |
| Organisation | University of Nigeria |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of rare breed indigenous chicken in Nigeria. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Helped with sampling and background information of the breed. |
| Impact | Analysis is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Retroviral-mediated genetic programming of porcine memory B cells |
| Organisation | AIMM Therapeutics |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Provided a novel 'model' system to test their technology to isolate novel monoclonal antibodies |
| Collaborator Contribution | To provide their patented platform technology to genetically program porcine memory B cells to enable the isolation of memory B cells |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Suresh Kuchipudi and Janet Daly |
| Organisation | Penn State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have hosted a co-supervised PhD student twice at The Pirbright Institute. During these visits we have helped with viral infection of primary cells for analysis of PI3K pathway perturbations and generated new GM influenza viruses to help to understand if the difference in PI3K pathway activity observed between two different avian influenza viruses in avian cells was a result of difference in the NS1 protein. In addition we have provided support to the student regarding the future directions of the project and writing up and presentation of the material. Therefore we have provided reagents, practical expertise and intellectual input. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators have provided access to data generated in their laboratories and intellectual input to the project. |
| Impact | Publication: doi: 10.1038/srep17999 |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Suresh Kuchipudi and Janet Daly |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | School of Veterinary Medicine and Science Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have hosted a co-supervised PhD student twice at The Pirbright Institute. During these visits we have helped with viral infection of primary cells for analysis of PI3K pathway perturbations and generated new GM influenza viruses to help to understand if the difference in PI3K pathway activity observed between two different avian influenza viruses in avian cells was a result of difference in the NS1 protein. In addition we have provided support to the student regarding the future directions of the project and writing up and presentation of the material. Therefore we have provided reagents, practical expertise and intellectual input. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators have provided access to data generated in their laboratories and intellectual input to the project. |
| Impact | Publication: doi: 10.1038/srep17999 |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | T folicullar helper cells in the pig influenza model |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Nuffield Department of Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provide material from influenza infected/vaccinated protected and unprotected animals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Seph Borrow from Oxford University provide antibodies and advice as to how to identify and charcterise the TFH cells. |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Taiwan Partnering |
| Organisation | Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica |
| Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | My Team provide expertise and licensed facility in High Containment to study African swine fever virus biology, diagnosis and vaccines |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Taiwan Team bring expertise in virus entry mechanisms, Vaccinia virus, protein expression |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: Virology, cell biology, immunology |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Test of broadly neutralising antibodies in pig influenza model |
| Organisation | Humabs Biomed SA |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Tested the therapeutic use of broadly neutralizing antibodies in pig influenza model |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided the antibodies |
| Impact | Manuscript published |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | The GCRF One Health Poultry Hub |
| Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The focus of the research is to achieve sustainable global intensification of poultry meat and egg production whilst reducing risks to human and animal health and welfare. We are undertaking research to investigate the diversity of avian influenza viruses prevalent in poultry and wild birds in south east Asia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Royal Veterinary College, London is leading this GCRF One Health Poultry Hub. The project will address the need to meet rising demand for poultry meat and eggs in developing countries, while minimising risk to international public health. Population growth is driving global demand for poultry, meat and egg production; this unfortunately creates conditions in which animal diseases can spread to humans ('zoonoses'). These include bacterial food poisoning and strains with avian influenza with epidemic or pandemic potential. The GCRF One Health Poultry Hub will adopt a 'One Health' approach to the issue of combatting animal-to-human diseases by bringing together a team of laboratory, clinical, veterinary and social scientists. This team will test and evaluate novel interventions. The need for safe poultry production is most urgent in South and South East Asia, so the RVC and its partners will then use their local networks in these regions to put its positive research to immediate use. |
| Impact | Development of international interdisciplinary partnership of 55 investigators from 13 countries to address the emerging global challenges of food security and public health associated with intensification of poultry production. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | The Pirbright "Livestock Antibody Hub" funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Me and my team established collaboration in the "Livestock Antibody Hub" funded ($5.5 million) by the from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Focus of our partnership is to develop techniques and capacity to analyse immune cells (B cells) of cattle, poultry and pigs that produce virus neutralizing antibodies. This research will support rational development of next generation of vaccines and to explore antibody-based passive immunization approaches for treatment and prophylaxis of infectious viral diseases affecting livestock and humans. Our initial focus is to target major animal viral pathogens that cause severe losses within Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) animal production systems including avian influenza virus (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is a collaborative project and partners are providing help in provision of reagents and techniques for analysis of diversity of B cells repertoire that produce infleunza virus-specific antibodies, single cell sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. This project will further strengthen our on-going research collaborations with many research groups in academia as well as with animal health industry (Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Merck, CEVA, Jovac, YeBio, ILRI, Galvmed, The Roslin Institute, HuMabs, AbCellera and Distributed Bio) to take the research outputs from laboratory to the field. The outputs of research will be improved vaccines and diagnostics enabling to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on farm animals, which offer substantial direct and indirect economic, public health, environmental and social benefits to the UK and rest of the world. |
| Impact | Development of passive immunization approaches against avian influenza viruses affecting poultry (project incited in January 2020). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The effect of the microbiota on immunity to swine infleunza |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We wish to establish the gut and nasal microbiome in normal healthy pigs and how this is affected by influenza infection. We have collected gut samples from pigs at different stages of infection, as well as nasal swabs which we will provide to our collaborators in Surrey. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators in Surrey will perform the sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to determine the microbial communities present in the samples. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet - we are in the process of analysing the samples. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | The role of segment 3 in H9N2 avian influenza virus pathogenicity |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | The Roslin Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a Joint studentship project funded by The Pirbright Institute and The Roslin Institute. We identiifed molecular markers that are responsible for increase in virus pathogenicity and transmission. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Roslin Institute contributed both intellectually and by proving research training, samples and regents to achieve the prescribed objectives this project. |
| Impact | 1. Oral Presentation Title: Identification of segment 3 sequence polymorphisms which alter shut off activity and pathogenicity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in vivo. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Paul Digard and Munir Iqbal. Global Alliance for Research Into Avian Diseases (GARAD). January 17th to 19th 2018. Fortuna Hotel, Lang Ha Street, Hanoi, VietNam 2. Poster title: What is the role of H9N2 avian influenza virus PA-X within an avian model?. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Paul Digard & Munir Iqbal. UK- China CERAD (Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases), 3rd Symposium Recent Advances in Avian Disease Research. August 31st - 1st September 2017. The Harbour Hotel, Alexandra Terrace, Guildford, Surrey, UK. 3. Poster title: What is the role of H9N2 avian influenza virus PA-X within an avian model?. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Paul Digard & Munir Iqbal. Microbiology Society Annual Conference. April 3rd-6th 2017. Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), Edinburgh, UK. 4. Oral Presentation title: Identification of sequence polymorphisms in segment 3 of H9N2 avian influenza viruses that affect PA-X activity. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Paul Digard & Munir Iqbal. Focused Meeting 2016: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis of Avian Viruses. September 27th-29th 2016. Charles Darwin House, London, UK. 5. Oral Presentation title: The role of segment 3 in H9N2 avian influenza virus pathogenicity. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Munir Iqbal & Paul Digard. UK -Taiwan BBSRC Partnering Award workshop: Improving Control of influenza viruses. 26th-27th April 2016. Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Oral Presentation title: Identification of sequence polymorphisms in segment 3 of H9N2 avian influenza viruses that affect PA-X activity. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Munir Iqbal & Paul Digard. Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2016; virus Workshop: Negative strand RNA Viruses. 21st-24th March 2016. Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, UK. 7. Poster title: The role of segment 3 in H9N2 influenza virus pathogenicity. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Munir Iqbal & Paul Digard. 7th Orthomyxovirus research conference. 16th-18th September 2015. Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France. 8. Poster title: The role of segment 3 in H9N2 influenza virus pathogenicity. Anabel Clements, Saira Hussain, Holly Shelton, Munir Iqbal & Paul Digard. Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Annual Symposium. 20th May 2015. Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, UK. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| 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 | USDA Culicoides |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA |
| Department | National Animal Disease Center |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Combined data for Culicoides genome project to enable publication in high impact journal. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Transcriptomics data for vector competence analysis and genome build. |
| Impact | Combined data for Culicoides genome project to enable publication in high impact journal. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Understanding animal health threats from emerging H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaborative research project funded by the UKRI-BBSRC to understand how the high pathogenicity Avian Influenza virus (H5N1) persisting in different species of wild birds and transmits from wild birds to farmed poultry, the gaps in biosecurity that allow the virus to penetrate premises, and how this could be addressed. My team contributing by by generating research reagents (such as viruses generated using reverse genetic technique) that allows the identification of molecular markers in the virus genes responsible for virus virulence, transmission and/or antigenic change. The data generated helped the partners to utilise the viruses and reagents for testing their biological behaviors ( such as infectivity and transmission parameters) via animal infection studies. The outcome of this collaborative work will provide insights for assessing threats from new and emerging strains, enabling national and international agencies to design and execute contingencies as part of risk mitigation and disease control. This will provide vital information when considering how to invest scarce resources for surveillance design aimed at early warning of the threat. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration enhance both the capacity of my team by providing field data ( such as sequences of viruses isolated from the field) and reagents such as post-infection antiserum containing antibodies specific to the field virus. This allowed the investigation of field virus antigenic profiles that can be used for selection of candidate vaccine seeds for the production of effective vaccines. |
| Impact | The data generated provided a risk assessment of contemporary H5Nx HPAIVs that are acquiring adaptive changes to increase fitness within domestic and wild avian populations. This partnership identified viral and host factors that potentially contribute to increased transmissibility, persistence, and pathogenicity in wild birds and those that enhance their potential to disseminate and manifest disease in poultry. We identified genetic changes that drive the virological, immunological, and zoonotic infection potential of these H5N1 viruses. The data generated allowed us an establishment of current and future risks from these viruses to both animals and humans if they continue to remain prevalent in wild bird populations. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry |
| Organisation | Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Undertake joint research work to investigate to identify the molecular determinants that are critical for enhancing potency and efficacy of vaccines, as well as those that are associated with heightened zoonotic risk. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples, reagents and research facilities |
| Impact | Published joint paper (1)ian Xu, Xixi Zhang, Shuanghai Zhou, Junjun Shen,Dawei Yang, Jing Wu, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua E. Sealy, Munir Iqbal&Yongqing Li (2017). A DNA aptamer efficiently inhibits the infectivity of Bovine herpesvirus 1 by blocking viral entry. Scientific Reports. 7: 11796. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10070-1. (2) Jian Xu, Jing Wu, Houjun He, Junjun Shena, Dawei Yang, Xixi Zhang, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua Sealy, Munir Iqbal & Yongqing Li (2017). Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8566-0. (2) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry |
| Organisation | China Agricultural University (CAU) |
| Department | College of Veterinary Medicine |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Undertake joint research work to investigate to identify the molecular determinants that are critical for enhancing potency and efficacy of vaccines, as well as those that are associated with heightened zoonotic risk. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples, reagents and research facilities |
| Impact | Published joint paper (1)ian Xu, Xixi Zhang, Shuanghai Zhou, Junjun Shen,Dawei Yang, Jing Wu, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua E. Sealy, Munir Iqbal&Yongqing Li (2017). A DNA aptamer efficiently inhibits the infectivity of Bovine herpesvirus 1 by blocking viral entry. Scientific Reports. 7: 11796. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10070-1. (2) Jian Xu, Jing Wu, Houjun He, Junjun Shena, Dawei Yang, Xixi Zhang, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua Sealy, Munir Iqbal & Yongqing Li (2017). Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8566-0. (2) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry |
| Organisation | Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Undertake joint research work to investigate to identify the molecular determinants that are critical for enhancing potency and efficacy of vaccines, as well as those that are associated with heightened zoonotic risk. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples, reagents and research facilities |
| Impact | Published joint paper (1)ian Xu, Xixi Zhang, Shuanghai Zhou, Junjun Shen,Dawei Yang, Jing Wu, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua E. Sealy, Munir Iqbal&Yongqing Li (2017). A DNA aptamer efficiently inhibits the infectivity of Bovine herpesvirus 1 by blocking viral entry. Scientific Reports. 7: 11796. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10070-1. (2) Jian Xu, Jing Wu, Houjun He, Junjun Shena, Dawei Yang, Xixi Zhang, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua Sealy, Munir Iqbal & Yongqing Li (2017). Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8566-0. (2) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry |
| Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Undertake joint research work to investigate to identify the molecular determinants that are critical for enhancing potency and efficacy of vaccines, as well as those that are associated with heightened zoonotic risk. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples, reagents and research facilities |
| Impact | Published joint paper (1)ian Xu, Xixi Zhang, Shuanghai Zhou, Junjun Shen,Dawei Yang, Jing Wu, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua E. Sealy, Munir Iqbal&Yongqing Li (2017). A DNA aptamer efficiently inhibits the infectivity of Bovine herpesvirus 1 by blocking viral entry. Scientific Reports. 7: 11796. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10070-1. (2) Jian Xu, Jing Wu, Houjun He, Junjun Shena, Dawei Yang, Xixi Zhang, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua Sealy, Munir Iqbal & Yongqing Li (2017). Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8566-0. (2) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Undertake joint research work to investigate to identify the molecular determinants that are critical for enhancing potency and efficacy of vaccines, as well as those that are associated with heightened zoonotic risk. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples, reagents and research facilities |
| Impact | Published joint paper (1)ian Xu, Xixi Zhang, Shuanghai Zhou, Junjun Shen,Dawei Yang, Jing Wu, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua E. Sealy, Munir Iqbal&Yongqing Li (2017). A DNA aptamer efficiently inhibits the infectivity of Bovine herpesvirus 1 by blocking viral entry. Scientific Reports. 7: 11796. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10070-1. (2) Jian Xu, Jing Wu, Houjun He, Junjun Shena, Dawei Yang, Xixi Zhang, Xiaoyang Li, Meiling Li, Xiufen Huang, Joshua Sealy, Munir Iqbal & Yongqing Li (2017). Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8566-0. (2) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Agricultural Research Centre |
| Department | Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute |
| Country | Egypt |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | MSk Lab |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Suez Canal University |
| Country | Egypt |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | University of Tokyo |
| Department | International Research Center for Infectious Diseases |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding diversity of avian influenza viruses and improvement disease control in poultry and humans |
| Organisation | Zagazig University |
| Country | Egypt |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project helped my research group to establish research collboration between the Pirbright Institute and the scientists at the collaborating laboratories listed above and an excellent opportunity for building a joint "ONE HEALTH" platfor. I am sharing knowledge, reagents and techniques to improve efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tools against avian influenza viruses. The easy availability of better control tools against avian influenza viruses will aid in the reduction of poultry production losses and thus be important for global food security and improved animal welfare whilst also reducing zoonotic transmission to humans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each collaborating institute and team member has specific expertise and facilities in areas relevant to this research programme. Collaborators in different institutions have extensive experience collecting field samples and implementing vaccination and large scale surveillance programmes. Each partner institutions have unique experience in monitoring the endemic prevalence of many animal diseases including avian influenza in both domestic and wild birds from which UK is under constant threat. The partners are sharing knowledge, expertise and facilities to investigate fundamental biology of influenza viruses and predict their epidemiological relevance, to assess potential risks and to devise appropriate intervention strategies. The knowledge, reagents and field samples will be available through this partnership. which will be essential for development of informed control policies and tools(vaccines and diagnostics) that may contribute to reducing the ever increasing threat from endemic, emerging and re-emerging influenza virus variants posing risk to animals and humans. Also, All researchers involved will benefit through ongoing professional development and advanced training in new technologies and new systems-level approaches to disease management. Exchange visits of researchers from collaborating laboratories to undertake training in a number of disciplines including disease surveillance, molecular virology, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology and diagnostics will have a tangible impact on capacity building and training of next generation researchers in control of infectious animal and zoonotic diseases. |
| Impact | The ultimate aims of this collaboration are to reduce the impact of influenza virus on poultry production and reduce their zoonotic transmission to humans. The collaboration will improve resources and capacity for disease control systems. Achieving these specific goals will prove a step-change in AIV disease management and increase in poultry productivity directly drives economic prosperity of farmers and allied communities. The will directly impact on socio-economic well-being of partner countries. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding the molecular parthenogenesis of influenza viruses in animals and humans |
| Organisation | China Agricultural University (CAU) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Influenza A viruses cause disease in both animals and humans. We developed a programme of reseach to investigate how this virus overcome species barriers and infect alternative species e.g, how avian influenza viruses infect humans. we also developed a joint programme of research to investigate ?What are the prevalence and genetic evolution of different AIVs in China? ? What is the extent of antigenic diversity among the contemporary AIVs circulating in China? ?How these viruses overcome evade host antiviral system to manifest the disease. ? Which strains might threaten the poultry industry as well as public health?. We provided technical help and reagents to achieve the objectives of this joint project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners at China Agricultural University executed the prescribed experimental work, analysed data and translated it into publication. |
| Impact | We identified a host-cell protein "P21" which restricts influenza A virus replication in the infected host. The results will aid in designing new antiviral against these viruses. The research outcomes were translated into publications entitled: "p21 restricts influenza A virus by perturbing the viral polymerase complex and upregulating type I interferon signalling" (PLoS Pathogens 18:2, e1010295). |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Use of fluorescent virions to isolate PRRSV-specific porcine B cells |
| Organisation | University of Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Deployment of a novel technology to facilitate isolation of PRRSV neutralizing monoclonal antibodies |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of a method to fluorescently tag purified virions to label PRRSV-specific B cells |
| Impact | None to report to date |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Vaccinia |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Generated and analysed DNA- and RNA-sequencing data from vaccinia samples with bespoke in-house pipelines |
| Collaborator Contribution | Generated DNA and RNA vaccinia samples |
| Impact | The collaboration aims to better understand the interaction between vaccina virus and its host(s), through the use of modern high-throughput techniques. No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Wilhelm Gerner |
| Organisation | University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our lab hosted Dr Gerner who brought samples for RNA-seq. My lab planned and executed the sequencing and is contributing to the analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Gerner did all the animal work and cell sorting to produce the samples reading for RNA-seq |
| Impact | None as yet, analysis is ongoing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Title | ??????? |
| Description | The present invention provides an attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) virus which lacks a functional version of the following genes: multigene-family 360 genes 9L, 10L, 11L, 12L, 13L and 14L; and multigene-family 505 genes 1R, 2R, 3R and 4R. The invention further provides an attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) virus which lacks a functional version of the DP148R gene. The present invention also provides a vaccine comprising such an attenuated virus and its use to prevent ASF. Further, the invention relates to intranasal administration of an attenuated ASF virus. |
| IP Reference | UA121217 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | The gene-deleted African swine fever virus strains are being evaluated as live attenuated vaccines |
| Title | AVIAN CELLS FOR IMPROVED VIRUS PRODUCTION |
| Description | The present Invention provides as avian cell in which the expression or activity of one or more of the following genes, or a homologue thereof: Chicken IFITM 1 (SEQ ID No. 1); Chicken IFITM2 (SEQ ID No. 2) and Chicken IFITM3 (SEQ ID No. 3) is reduced. The invention also provides methods for passaging viruses in avian cells, embryos and/or avian cell lines which have reduced expression of one or more IFITM genes and methods which involve investigating the sequence of one or more of the following genes, or a homologue thereof: Chicken IFITM1 (SEQ ID No. 1); Chicken IFITM2 (SEQ ID No. 2) and Chicken IFITM3 (SEQ ID No. 3). |
| IP Reference | WO2014195692 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | The present invention provides an avian cell in which the expression or activity of one or more of the following genes, or a homologue thereof: Chicken IFITM1 (SEQ ID No. 1); Chicken IFITM2 (SEQ ID No. 2) and Chicken IFITM3 (SEQ ID No. 3) is reduced. The invention also provides methods for passaging viruses in avian cells, embryos and/or avian cell lines which have reduced expression of one or more IFITM genes and methods which involve investigating the sequence of one or more of the follow |
| Title | PPR DIVA vaccine |
| Description | We ahve developed two PPR live attenuated DIVA vaccines that can differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals. |
| IP Reference | PCT/GB2019/053641,WO2020128496 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Till date there is no PPR vaccine avalable that can differentiate between vaccination and infection. This causes a huge issue on eradication of the didease and declare freedom from the disease. Therefore our newly develped chimeric live attenauted PPR vaccine and DIVA tests can differentiate between vaccination and infection which is a great achievement for ongoing PPR eradication. Please see detail from the below web. https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020128496 |
| Title | VACCINE AGAINST AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS INFECTION |
| Description | The present invention relates to attenuated African Swine Fever viruses. The attenuated viruses protect pigs against subsequent challenge with virulent virus. The present invention also relates to the use of such attenuated viruses to treat and/or prevent African Swine Fever. The invention also relates to EP402R proteins of African Swine Fever virus comprising particular amino acid substitutions, as well as polynucleotides encoding such proteins and African Swine Fever viruses comprising such proteins. |
| IP Reference | WO2021176236 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | The gene-deleted African swine fever viruses are being taken forward as candidate live attenuated vaccines and included in a BBSRC LINK award |
| Description | "Challenges for Poultry Industry". Organised by Fakieh Poultry at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2nd -3rd December 2018, |
| 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 | Conference discussed prevention and control of infectious diseases affecting poultry production. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | "Interactive session with poultry stakeholders". Title: Overview of Avian Influenza group Research at The Pirbright Institute. Presented at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan, 3rd August 2018. |
| 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 | The workshop discussed the economic impacts and prevention strategies against avian influenza viruses affecting poultry production and zoonotic infections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 2. Overview of Avian Influenza group Research at The Pirbright Institute. Presented at "Interactive session with poultry stakeholders" at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan, 3rd August 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of research Project outcomes These include presenting research data for vaccine seed strains with emergent field avian influenza variants; The zoonotic risk posed by emerging avian influenza viruses circulating in the wild birds and poultry. Impact of virus evolution on vaccine efficacy and persistence in poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | A talk at a symposium entitled: Using the 3Rs to support good science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at a Symposium held at The Pirbright Institute entitled: "Using the 3Rs to support good science". The talk was entitled: "A chicken primary B cell culture model to study the pathogenesis and improve the control of immunosuppressive viruses of poultry" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | A talk at the British Poultry Diseases Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Poultry Diseases Group meet quarterly and is comprised of representatives from private veterinary practices, vaccine and pharmaceutical industries, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). I gave a talk at one of the meetings outlining my research to date and future directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | AB Improving Approaches to Prevent and Control Viral Diseases of Livestock and Poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Batra, A., Maier, H.J., Britton P., Hiscox, J.A., Fife, M.S., 2015. PI3K/AKT signalling during infectious bronchitis virus infection. Food Security: Improving Approaches to Prevent and Control Viral Diseases of Livestock and Poultry, British Council Research Links Workshop, Istanbul, Turkey (Oral presentation) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Animal Health Investment Forum. Panel Discussion on African swine fever |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Panel discussion on African swine fever impact and control |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2022 |
| Description | Article and Video in AP press on African swine fever risk to pygmy hogs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview and video recording for AP press on risks of African swine fever virus to critically endangered pygmy hogs in Assam India |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Article in The Scientist Magazine following interview with Katya Zimmer (June 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Journalist with The Scientist Magazine for a News Article concerning Race to Build ASFV vaccine in response to outbreaks in China/Asia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/scientists-race-to-build-vaccine-for-african-swine-fever-... |
| Description | Ash Manor School challenge week workshop |
| 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 | For this event, 60 students were rotating around a series of science workshops as part of their challenge week based on a selected theme of their choice. Giulia and Phoebe contributed together with other people from our Institute in delivering the workshop about microbiology, hence student were actively interested in the topic. They organised activities that could be performed in small groups such as teaching pupils about the importance of hand hygiene using our UV Equipment, seeing live mosquitoes through a microscope, learning about flu using our Flu Fighters- H&N Selector and trying to take swabs from a model chicken using Flu Fighters- Henrietta the Chicken. The students were very interested in all the activities and actively participating, and they were asking many questions related to viruses, animal diseases, zoonotic diseases and microbiology in general. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ash Manor Science Workshops; general science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Ash Manor Science Workshops |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ash Manor school challenge week science workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Provide information on research activity at The Pirbright Institute and informing on pathogens infecting farmed animals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ash Manor school challenge week science workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Discussion of research activities with school children and the school reported increased interests in the related subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Avian Influenza H9N2 and H7N9 evolution, fitness in poultry and zoonotic potential presented by Munir Iqbal at UC DAVIS EDUCATION CONFERENCE ON ONE HEALTH FOR FOOD SAFETY, AGRICULTURE, AND ANIMAL 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 | The research was discussed with academic and non-academic participants the risks of avian influenza viruses currently circulating in poultry and carry potential to cause zoonotic infections. Since avian influenzas viruses (AIVs) exist in many subtypes and co-infection of two or more different AIV subtypes in an individual bird can lead to the generation of novel reassortant viruses. The emergent reassortant viruses may carry differential phenotypic characteristics (virulence, host-transmission and host-range) compared to their parental viruses. Our studies revealed that experimental co-infection of chickens with two different subtypes of avian influenza viruses (H9N2 and H7N9) led to the emergence of novel reassortant H9N9 viruses which carry greater virulence for poultry and an increased zoonotic and pandemic potential. Our results also provided evidence that both H9N2 and H7N9 viruses can rapidly acquire antigenic changes in vaccinated birds causing vaccine failure and cocirculation of these viruses can also rapidly lead to rapid generation of novel reassortment viruses with increased virulence and host-range posing threat to both animals and humans. This presentation increased awareness among the audience risk posed by co-circulation of different subtypes of avian influenza viruses in poultry and wild birds and how best we can detect emerging threats and develop the disease risks and disease mitigation strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.wifss.ucdavis.edu/onehealthsummer21/ |
| Description | Avian Influenza Research at Pirbright |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk as an invited speaker to the Animal Diseases Surveillance and Control Team at The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), London, UK sharing 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 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: 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 | Avian influenza virus evolution impacts on virulence and antigenicity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A talk was presented at Royal Veterinary College, London, by Thusitha Karunarathna (a PhD student in the Avian Influenza group at The Pirbright Institute). The Talk described the mechanisms used by the avian influenza viruses to evade host immunity to cause disease outbreaks and persists in poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Avian influenza viruses can combine two techniques to evade vaccine immunity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A study by researchers at The Pirbright Institute reveals more clues about how avian influenza viruses can evade vaccine immunity, aiding their spread in the field. The findings are published in Emerging Microbes and Infections. Influenza viruses are able to mutate, which can enable them to evade immunity generated by natural infection or vaccination. Influenza viruses have four main ways of duping the immune system so that they can continue to infect and spread between birds. Pirbright scientists investigated two of these to further understand how the H9N2 avian influenza virus can change its genetic makeup to overcome poultry vaccines. One of the methods the virus can use is to alter one of its surface proteins, haemagglutinin (HA), which enables the virus to enter the cell and replicate. HA is also a common target for the immune system's antibodies, which block the virus from binding to cell receptors. By changing just one or two protein components, HA can latch on far more tightly to the cell, preventing antibodies from stopping the virus. However, this can come at a cost, as particularly strong binding can prevent effective replication. The other method scientists investigated is how H9N2 viruses disguise themselves by adding sugar chains to the surface of their HA proteins. This can block antibodies from binding, but also has varying fitness outcomes for the influenza virus. The researchers found that the location of the sugar chain on HA could determine how effectively the virus replicated. They also demonstrated that the two evasive techniques could either compliment or act against each other - if an influenza virus had gained mutations that enable it to bind more strongly to cells, a sugar chain in the right position could restore its ability to replicate effectively. In contrast, weakly binding influenza viruses do not benefit from HA sugar additions, which instead reduce the virus's ability to replicate. Professor Munir Iqbal, head of the Avian Influenza Group at Pirbright said, "We can use this knowledge to develop new vaccines that will help antibodies to recognise how the flu virus can change. This will provide protection to birds even as the virus evolves. We can also use this information to understand how viruses survive in poultry despite vaccination and monitor new adaptions that may appear in the field." This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the British Council with support from the Newton Fund. Article: Sealy, J. E., Peacock, T. P., Sadeyen, J. R., Chang, P., Everest, H. J., Bhat, S., Iqbal, M. (2020). Adsorptive mutation and N-linked glycosylation modulate influenza virus antigenicity and fitness. Emerging Microbes & Infections, advance online publication, 12 November 2020, doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1850180 [SOURCE: The Pirbright Institute] |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.star-idaz.net/2020/12/avian-influenza-viruses-can-combine-two-techniques-to-evade-vaccin... |
| Description | Avian influenza viruses in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka: investigating genotype to phenotype (antigenicity, virulence, host-range). Webinar on 28th March 2021. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented talk by Munir iqbal describing ongoing research outcomes. We identified genetic determined that modules avian influenza H5 and H9 antigenicity virulence and transmission fitness in different host species. The role of identified markers that change the virus binding to host cells and impact on virus-host interaction leading to mild or severe disease manifestation in chickens and mammalian species (humans). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Avian influenza: tackling large numbers of outbreaks this winter in the UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nearly two years on, the COVID-19 pandemic is still dominating the news and continues to cause concern for populations across the globe. However, UK poultry and wild bird populations are currently facing their own health threat. We are not the only ones that have faced lockdowns because of spreading viruses, UK poultry and captive birds have also faced a similar situation to protect them from avian influenza. Scientists at The Pirbright Institute are working to increase understanding of how genetic changes in influenza A viruses can impact disease spread, host responses to infection and the pathology associated with the disease. What is the avian influenza virus? Avian influenza viruses are Influenza A viruses that circulate and transmit amongst birds. The disease is what we commonly know as 'bird flu'. Influenza A viruses can infect a range of hosts, including humans and two subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 circulate as seasonal flu each winter in the UK. Avian influenza viruses are different to those that can infect humans in that they cannot easily infect humans and must change and adapt to do so. Aquatic birds are a natural reservoir for avian influenza viruses, these birds typically experience fewer clinical symptoms but can spread disease to domestic birds, particularly in the migratory season, between October and March. Avian influenza viruses are categorised as either highly pathogenic (HPAI) or low pathogenic (LPAI) and this categorisation is linked to the severity of disease in chickens. HPAI has a high mortality rate which can be up to 100%, other symptoms can include swelling of the head, death of cells in the comb and wattle, red discolouration of legs and feet and diarrhoea. HPAI causes disease in more organs than just those in the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts like LPAI, which mostly presents as respiratory symptoms such as a snick (like a sneeze), a rattle in the chest (known as rales) and discharge from the eyes and nose. What is causing bird flu outbreaks in domestic birds now? We are currently in the normal migratory season of wild birds. In the spring and summer months, these birds spend their time breeding and raising their young in North-eastern Asia where they mix with other bird species which enables virus transmission and mutation. Then, when they migrate for the autumn and winter months, they shed virus in their faeces along the way. One of the migratory paths is across Northern Europe and this includes the UK. This year, in the UK, the first avian influenza outbreak was on 15 October and was discovered in captive aquatic birds. To date (17 December 2021) there have been 50 outbreaks in England, 1 in Wales and 2 in Scotland, this has resulted in over half a million birds being destroyed to control the spread of disease. Are there more outbreaks this year compared to other years? The number of outbreaks this year has been the most extensive ever. There have been over 50 outbreaks in the UK, compared to 26 outbreaks last year. Although it is hard to pin down the reason for this high number, we know it is not linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK's response to the spread of avian influenza has been rapid, and from 29 November birds were required to be housed inside with additional biosecurity measures put in place such as foot dips and disinfecting clothing. Testing and surveillance of wild birds have shown that there is a high prevalence of the virus in these birds currently, and this is contributing to the spread of disease to farm and domestic bird populations. A more detailed look at the genetic make-up of these viruses shows that they are different to those from previous years. This is predicted to be as a result of the virus infecting multiple birds across a range of species, and this provides the perfect opportunity for the virus to evolve. Analysis of these genetic changes does not raise any alarm bells for increased transmission to humans, but they are likely impacting the spread and severity of disease in birds. What should we do if we find a dead bird or are concerned about bird health? If the public finds dead waterfowl birds they are encouraged not to touch them but to report them to Defra using the appropriate phone number that can be found on the website, also any other wild birds found dead in numbers of five or greater should be reported. What is Pirbright doing to tackle this virus? Researchers at Pirbright are attempting to enhance the control and detection of avian influenza in poultry populations as well as extend our basic knowledge about the virus in avian and mammalian hosts. The research groups led by Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Holy Shelton are investigating how avian influenza virus strains originated from wild birds can rapidly adapt to cause disease outbreaks in poultry and gain the potential to infect humans. In addition, Professor Munir Iqbal is developing improved poultry vaccines that prevent virus replication and spread. These vaccines are particularly useful in countries where avian influenza is regularly found in the domestic poultry and the control and prevention of spread isn't easy, such as in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2021/12/avian-influenza-tackling-large-numbers-outbreaks-winter-uk |
| Description | BBC World Service Science Programme "Science in Action" Broadcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an broadcast with BBC World Service Science in Action Programme to inform the public about the current African swine fever situation and provide information on pathogenesis mechanisms of transmission and our research on vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002vsn |
| Description | BBSRC Partnering Seminar, University of Liverpool, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Science University |
| 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 presented entitled " Molecular determinants of antigenicity of H7 and H9 avian Influenza viruses". The research data shared with the colleagues working to reduce the impact of avian infectious diseases on poultry production. The discussion led to more collaboration and work together, acquiring reagents and protocols for further research and development activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | BSI (Britsh Society of Immunology) forum meetings |
| 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 | Regular meetings of BSI forum. Discussed how to raise awareness amongst the general public for immunisation against SARS-CoV2. Discussed the Government strategy for giving Pfizer vaccine 12 weeks apart and requested evidence from JCVI justifying this immunisation regime. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | BSI congress 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chaired a session on coinfection sponsored by the BBSRC. Took part in a debate on the future of veterinary immunology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | BSI report on the future of veterinary immunology and vaccinology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Organised and published a joint IVVN/BSI report to raise awareness of the UK's research status in veterinary vaccinology and immunology and the importance of maintaining this for the R&D landscape 'Securing Our Future: the value of veterinary vaccines'. This was aimed at influencing policymakers to support and commit to maintaining the UK's leading position. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | BSI webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I presented a webinar hosted by the British Society for Immunology entitled "BSI Coronavirus webinar: What can we learn from the animal coronaviruses?", which sparked questions and discussions afterwards. I have since been contacted to establish new collaborations with people in the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Big Band Science Event- AH, ER, LVC, MdP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Big Bang Fair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a South of England Showground in which students from schools and their parents participated which lead to discussion and interest in both school children and their parents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://nearme.thebigbangfair.co.uk/view/?eve_id=1956 |
| Description | Big Bang Fair |
| 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 | The Big Bang Near Me is a programme of regional and local Big Bang Fairs that take place all across the UK. Together with The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair and The Big Bang Competition, it forms part of the wider Big Bang programme, bringing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to life for young people |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://nearme.thebigbangfair.co.uk/about/ |
| Description | Big Bang SE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Bird flu genetic make-up different from previous years |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research outputs were mass comminated for the general public via a news story. Lockdowns due to spreading viruses are continuing to affect UK poultry and captive bird owners and scientists say the latest research into this year's avian influenzas shows a different genetic make-up. The number of outbreaks this year has been the most extensive ever across the UK with more than 50 cases, compared to just 26 last year. Testing and surveillance of wild birds have shown that there is a high prevalence of the virus currently in birds, and this is contributing to the spread of disease to farm and domestic bird populations. Dr Holly Shelton, head of Pirbright's Influenza Viruses group, is looking at understanding how genetic changes in influenza A viruses can impact disease spread, host responses to infection and the pathology associated with the disease. Shelton said avian influenza viruses are different to those that can infect humans in that they cannot easily infect and must change and adapt to do so. Aquatic birds are a natural reservoir for avian influenza viruses but typically experience fewer clinical symptoms despite spreading the disease to domestic birds in the migratory season between October and March. Bird migration Responding to questions on what was causing bird flu outbreaks in domestic birds, she said: "In the spring and summer months these birds spend their time breeding and raising their young in north-eastern Asia where they mix with other bird species. This enables virus transmission and mutation. Then, when they migrate for the autumn and winter months, they shed viruses in their faeces along the way. "One of the migratory paths is across northern Europe and this includes the UK. This year in the UK, avian influenza was first discovered on 15 October in captive aquatic birds. To date (17 December), there have been 50 outbreaks in England, 1 in Wales and 2 in Scotland. This has resulted in over half a million birds being destroyed to control the spread of the disease." Testing and surveillance Government testing and surveillance of wild birds have shown a high prevalence of the virus in these birds which was contributing to the spread of the disease to farm and other domestic bird populations. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said this week that avian influenza had already killed more than 850 barnacle geese at its Mersehead reserve near Dumfries. "We are probably approaching 4,000 - certainly over 3,000 - mostly barnacle geese. It is pretty large scale and likely to get worse. It is unprecedented. I have worked in the area for 25 years and I don't ever remember us seeing this many birds dying," said the charity's area manager, Andrew Bielinski. "A more detailed look at the genetic make-up of these viruses shows that they are different to those from previous years. This is predicted to be a result of the virus infecting multiple birds across a range of species, and this provides the perfect opportunity for the virus to evolve. "Analysis of these genetic changes does not raise any alarm bells for increased transmission to humans, but they likely impact the spread and severity of disease in birds." Enhancing control Research at Pirbright is looking at enhancing control and detection of avian influenza as well as extending knowledge about the virus in avian and mammalian hosts. The Influenza Viruses group is involved in the assessment of which avian influenza virus strains can rapidly adapt to cause potential infections of humans. In addition, Shelton's group is mapping the changes in the chicken respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiome following virus infection and assessing whether the application of probiotics can be useful in controlling virus shedding or transmission in birds. The Influenza Group, led by Professor Munir Iqbal, is developing improved poultry vaccines that can prevent virus replication and spread. These vaccines are particularly useful in countries where avian influenza is regularly found in the domestic poultry and the control of prevention of spread isn't easy, such as the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.poultryworld.net/health-nutrition/bird-flu-genetic-make-up-different-from-previous-years... |
| Description | Bird flu: What is it and what's behind the outbreak? ( BBC New) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Discussion with BBC News Editors (Helen Briggs & Jeremy Howell). As the The world is going through its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu which led the deaths of hundreds of thousands of wild birds and millions of domestic ones. It is also being found in mammals, so what are the threats from this virus to economy, food security, animal welfare and public health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63464065 |
| Description | Blenheim High School Fair - DB |
| 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 | Team members attended sessions at a local high school with secondary school children and those in the 6th form to talk about paths into scientific careers, sharing their experiences of working at The Pirbright Institute. Approximately 300 students attended and it stimulated increased interest in science and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Bluetongue in wildlife workshop - presentation on "Bluetongue virus in deer (and other wildlife) - pathogenesis and immune responses" July 2018 |
| 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 | This workshop brought together policy makers, veterinary advisers and scientist to share information and discuss the role of wildlife for important Culicoides-borne viruses of ruminants. Gave 15 minutes presentation on "Bluetongue virus in deer (and other wildlife) - pathogenesis and immune responses" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | British Science Week - Wilhelm Gerner |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | British Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Broadcast on African swine fever on BBC wolrd service "The Food Chain" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with BBC World Service "The Food Chain" on African swine fever virus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05xhflj |
| Description | CABI_Research activity of Avian Immunology Group at The Pirbright Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Release of research activity within Avian Immunology group at The Pirbright Institute |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Centre of excellence for research on avian diseases (CERAD) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present my work at the UK-China Centre of excellence for research on avian diseases (CERAD) meeting attended by researchers from UK, China and Thailand. There was lots of discussion about the research and future directions, including potential collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Chair of organising Committee for Wellcome Trust-Animal Genetics and Diseases 2017 |
| 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 | This meeting brought together specialists working on the interface between genomics, genetic engineering and infectious disease with the aims of improving animal and human health and welfare. Scientific sessions included: Genetics of immune responses and disease resistance Genetically engineered livestock (including genome editing) Quantitative genetics and epigenetics applied to disease Epidemiology and pathogen evolution Bioinformatics, comparative and functional genomics Precision medicine of animal companions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.org/events/item.aspx?e=635&dm_i=2SUU,HOGH,4R4AW1,... |
| Description | Cheltenham Science Festival 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Attended the Cheltenham Science Festival and presented "Pandemic Live" an interactive debate on the spread of viruses in livestock. The audience were guided through the decision making processes that accompany an outbreak of an exotic livestock disease outbreak. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cheltenham Science Festival 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Kate Dulwich participated in an outreach activity at the Cheltenham Science Festival from 07-09 Jun 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Cheltenham Science Festival- AH, ER, JC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Present at the Pirbright stand to discuss science with the public |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Cheltenham Science festival - LB |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | National science festival which Team members attended to demonstrate to the public how scientists at The Pirbright Institute can work to contain and control viral outbreaks. Over 500 people accessed the information and this stimulated increased interest in science and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Combating avian influenza through systematic analysis of antigenic drift, genetic variation, and development of novel diagnostic tools and vaccines. Presented at as PI of the ZELS project at ZELS grant holders and Stakeholders meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam 23th-24th January 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Engagement and dissemination of research outcome to representatives of research funding bodies such as Department for International Development (DFID), Medical Research Council (MRC) and the researchers working on different research projects funded by BBSRC under Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Controlling and monitoring Avian Influenza in poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Engagement with veterinarian and farmers involved in poultry production. The discussion focused was new strategies (vaccines and diagnostics) for reducing the the impacts of high pathogenicity of avian influenza viruses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Coronavirus lecture MSc students (Surrey) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A lecture was presented on the replication, cellular interactions and pathogenesis of coronaviruses to 15-20 MSc students from University of Surrey. The students were engaged and interested, answering and asking questions during the session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2018 |
| Description | Could Bird Flu become a pandemic? (Aljazeera TV) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The discussion ( Inside Story) has been impacts of high pathogenicity avian influenza on poultry and whether bird flu become a pandemic?. The inside story was presented by Al Jazeera English corresponded "Mohammed Jamjoom" the discussion focus remains as the world is experiencing its largest recorded outbreak of bird flu, populations of poultry and wild birds are becoming infected. So what are threats of these viruses on food supplies, economy and public health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spp2Cg-jqoc |
| Description | DB Winston Churchill School Careers event |
| 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 | School careers event for a Secondary School - 1500 children ages 11 to 16 years |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Deimante Lukosaityte: Microbiology Society conference 2019. Poster presentation: Chicken protection against H9N2 virus by passive immunization |
| 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 | Described techniques for development of next generation of vaccines against viral diseases affecting animals and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Delivered a lead talk at Indian Association of Vetrinary Microbiology and Immunology ( IAVMI) at IVRI, Bareilly on PPR and FMD control by vaccination- February 6-7th, 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a lead talk at Indian Association of Vetrinary Microbiology and Immunology ( IAVMI) at IVRI, Bareilly on PPR and FMD control by vaccination- February 6-7th, 2020. Further attended the panel meeting with FMD vaccine producers and FMD scientists at PDFMD and IVRI Bangalore to recommend Govt of India for the future control of FMD. Suggested boosting of the first dose FMDV vaccinated animals which will stimulate the immunity up to the second biannual vaccination to avoid any window for infection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Delivered a lead talk on FMD vaccine and chaired a scientific session at Indian Veterinary Association at New Delhi ( 25.7.19-28.07.19) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a lead talk on FMD vaccine and chaired a scientific session at Indian Veterinary Association at New Delhi ( 25.7.19-28.07.19). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.indianveterinaryassociation.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/... |
| Description | Delivered a talk on PPR DIVA vaccine at EU Epizone meeting in Berlin-25.8.19-28-08.19 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a talk on PPR DIVA vaccine at EU Epizone meeting in Berlin-25.8.19-28-08.19 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Demonstrating Mathematics (Angita Shrestha) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Angita Shrestha (PhD student within Avian Influenza group) provided help in a Maths session to the new Oxford Doctoral Training Porgramme (DTP) cohort. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Determinants of antigenicity of H9 Avian Influenza Viruses. UK-China Swine and Poultry Workshop.17-18 June 2019, The Pirbright Institute, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| 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 | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A talk entitled "Developing novel multivalent vaccines for poultry viral diseases" was presented to post-graduate students from Univerity of Oxford. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| 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 | Diamond (TT) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Diamond Light Source Open Day - explaining to general public the importance of structural biology and microscopy for understanding viruses and designing improved vaccines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Diamond Light Source Open day - HJM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A public open day for Diamond Light Source, which Pirbright attended as a user of the facility to showcase research being performed at Pirbgith in collaboration with Diamond. There was a lot of interest in the fundamental research and sicussion about future plans and how it fit with the facility at Diamond. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Diamond open day |
| 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 | Over 300 people visited our stand at the open day, in which we described the importance of our work for food security and public health. Children from all ages were involved and learned about viruses and played with the huge virus particle that we had produced. One of the major impact was that we described to several people why we work on some viruses that we do not have them in the UK, and the importance of the work for the UK and UK economy and public health was explained. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Public/VisitUs.html |
| Description | Discussion with DEFRA around genome editing of animals February 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I am a member of the Farm Animal Innovation Network providing advice to DEFRA on genome editing of animals. It is a mix of industry and academia. Outputs are from the group not the individual. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Discussion with DEFRA around genome editing of animals November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I am a member of the Farm Animal Innovation Network providing advice to DEFRA on genome editing of animals. It is a mix of industry and academia. Outputs are from the group not the individual. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Educational article/resource - How can vaccinating pigs protect people? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Publication of an educational article/resource - How can vaccinating pigs protect people? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://futurumcareers.com/how-can-vaccinating-pigs-protect-people |
| Description | Emerging Threats: The 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 | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk as an Invited speaker at the 2023 International Symposium on Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Yangzhou University, 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. 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 | Encouraging women into science and engineering STEM. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | MH Visited Warwick School, Redhill to talk to secondary students about careers in STEM. A very positive outcome and well received. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| 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 | Engineered Recombinant Single Chain Variable Fragment of Monoclonal Antibody Provides Protection to Chickens Infected with H9N2 Avian Influenza. Presented by Deimante Lukosaityte at Influenza Update meeting 4th - 15th December 2020: The University of Liverpool (online meeting) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk describes a technique for the development of immunotherapy to protect poultry from Infectious diseases such as avian influenza viruses. The talk provided evidence that recombinant antibodies can provide passive immunity to protect chickens from avian influenza. Several mAbs generated from mice hybridomas targeting hemagglutinin (HA) of H9N2 virus were converted into single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies. Recombinant scFvs were purified from insect cell culture supernatants and showed it could retain neutralization capacity against H9N2 virus in vitro. To test therapeutic scFv efficacy in vivo we selected two of the recombinantly produced scFv antibodies for prophylaxis and treatment of chickens infected with H9N2 UDL-01 virus. Intranasally treated birds showed reduced disease manifestation and virus shedding. These results indicate that antibody therapy could be beneficial for the provision of rapid treatment for reducing disease impacts in poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/iii/cvr/events/influenza/ |
| Description | Evolution of H9N2 avian influenza virus under immune pressure. Presented at 10th International Symposium on Avian Influenza, 15th - 18th April 2018, The Grand Hotel, Brighton, UK. |
| 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 | The primary aim of the workshop was to forge long-term research partnerships between early-career researchers, livestock industry and national disease control authorities in the UK and the Philippines. In addition, the activity hopes provide information about the emerging and next generation diagnostic and vaccine strategies and their utilization to reduce the impact of viral diseases on livestock and poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.slideshare.net/zerep_cire/2019-newton-agham-researcher-links-workshop-vaccines-and-diagn... |
| Description | Expert contributor to online lumpy skin disease prepardness course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | EuFMD virtual learning course aimed at increasing knowledge of lumpy skin disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Expert group meeting for PPR eradication at head quarters of WHO, Vienna, Austria, 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In the FAO/PPR eradication meeting satya has presented work on PPR epidemiology and diagnosis. The talk was designed for the stakeholders and policy make to make aware on important points that are required for eradication of PPR |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | FLI - presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of current research to the FLI - Germany to build collaborations 19/20 November 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Farnborough College of Technology Career day |
| 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 aim of this event was to give Y13 students direct access to local potential employers who are prepared to invest in training and developing their employees via recognised apprenticeships, formal additional qualifications or in-house training, together with information on when and how they can apply. Additionally the exhibition was open for all the 3,700 college students to attend throughout the day with their families. Giulia was in charge of The Pirbright Institute stand with various activities for visitors to take part in and she was explaining our science to the students and the general public, career opportunities and training options. During the day working on the stand Giulia could speak with many children and adults about her work at Pirbright and what The Pirbright Institute is, stimulating public interest in research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Farnborough futures careers event - HJM |
| 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 | The careers event aimed to introduce the range of careers available at Pirbright. In addition I discussed my own career progression and highlighted the range of possible careers that I could have entered. Finally, I discussed some details of the research with interested students. The students had a wide range of backgrounds and career aims but were interested to hear about the Institute and the sort of work opportunities available. Several of them planned to follow up by investigating future job opportunities at Pirbright. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Fellowship Review for Roslin Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invitation to review and provide expertise for fellowship applications under the Roslin Fellowship Scheme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Festival of Genomics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I participated as an expert on a panel to discuss the new and emerging technologies in high throughput sequencing, the cost implications and how these will impact upon the market/science. GF |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://www.FLAV.org.uk |
| Description | GFRA scientific meeting, Thailand 29-31/10/2019 Poster presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster title: EVALUATION OF CD4+ T-CELL RESPONSES TO VACCINATION WITH NEXT GENERATION FMD VACCINES USING TETRAMER-GUIDED EPITOPE MAPPING OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS CAPSID |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Genetic engineering speeds up poultry vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Researchers report the rapid generation of a bivalent vaccine against Marek's disease and avian influenza Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have used genetic engineering to develop a vaccine that protects birds against both Marek's disease and avian influenza. They say the process is faster and more efficient compared to previous methods, which will allow poultry vaccine producers to rapidly update vaccine strains in order to keep up with virus evolution. In a study published in the journal Vaccines, the team used the gene editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 to insert an avian influenza gene into the turkey herpesvirus (HVT) that is used in Marek's disease vaccines. The gene codes for haemagglutinin (HA), an influenza protein that is key for virus entry into host cells and is therefore an important target of the host immune response to block infection. "HVT is already widely used in vaccines against Marek's disease and can be administered to eggs, enabling automated delivery and providing birds with protection from the day they hatch. The additional HA gene we have incorporated will be expressed by HVT when it replicates in host cells, meaning that a single dose of vaccine induces immunity against both viruses", explained Professor Munir Iqbal, Head of the Avian Influenza group at Pirbright. "The genetic engineering process we have developed using CRISPR/Cas9 is far quicker and more efficient than previous technologies, as well as being very consistent and accurate. These attributes are essential for providing fast and reliable vaccine production to protect poultry", Prof Iqbal added. Mutations can occur with high frequency in HA proteins, enabling influenza viruses to evade immunity generated by vaccines. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to create new vaccines will help tackle evolving viruses by reducing the time it takes manufacturing companies to adapt their vaccine strains to match these mutations, allowing faster responses to outbreaks and providing better protection. Although this gene editing method is very reliable, a small number of HVT viruses fail to incorporate the HA gene into their own genome effectively. To ensure HA is being expressed in the vaccine, the team exploited the HA protein's ability to bind to molecules on the surface of red blood cells. Chicken cells infected with the successfully modified HVT virus express HA on their surface which red blood cells attach to, forming a clump that can be visualised using microscopy. This simple test improves the speed at which suitable vaccine candidates can be identified and has a much broader application as it can also be used for other viruses that incorporate proteins which interact with red blood cells. "Improving how we make vaccines is critical for preventing avian influenza outbreaks. Our work could help reduce the spread of disease between birds and reduce the risk of infection for people who work closely with poultry", Prof Iqbal said. "Now that we have developed a rapid method for generating this modified vaccine, our next steps will be to study the vaccine's effectiveness in field trials." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.cabi.org/vetmedresource/news/66612 |
| Description | Gordon's schools careers Fair-AH |
| 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 | Provoking interest in a range of science career paths |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Guidance document on genome editing to DEFRA |
| 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 am a member of the Farm Animal Innovation Network (FAIN) providing advice to DEFRA on genome editing of animals. It is a mix of industry and academia. Outputs are from the group and not the individual. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | H9N2 avian influenza viruses: impact of evolutionary changes on virus antigenicity, receptor binding and zoonotic potential. Presented at "Conference on Animal Infectious Diseases and Human Health" held at The Veterinary Biotechnology Branch of Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine & the Veterinary Immunology Branch of Chinese Society for Immunology. August 7th-10th, 2018 Harbin, China. |
| 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 | Focus of the conference was to improve control against infectious diseases affecting poultry and livestock. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | H9N2 avian influenza viruses: impact of evolutionary changes on virus antigenicity, receptor binding and zoonotic potential. Presented at "Conference on Animal Infectious Diseases and Human Health" held at The Veterinary Biotechnology Branch of Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine & the Veterinary Immunology Branch of Chinese Society for Immunology. August 7th-10th, 2018 Harbin, China. |
| 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 | Dissemination of research outcomes to prevent and control of infectious diseases of animals and humans. - Avian influenza virus evolution and efficacy. - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Help provide content for a Russian media outlet 'Veterinary and Life'. |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I provided comments for an article on the future of veterinary medicines and vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Helping Local Community Wildlife area |
| 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 | Pond Clearing at Fox Corner Wildlife area (Hannah Goldswain) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | High pathogenicity avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 in Europe -Epidemiology and Surveillance. Presented via Webinar, organized by Boehringer Ingelheim, 3rd July 2020. |
| 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; High pathogenicity avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 in Europe -Epidemiology and Surveillance. talk was organized by Boehringer Ingelheim, 3rd July 2020 and presented via Webinar. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Holt School Surrey. Bee meadow & A-level outreach Talk. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I discussed the importance of pollinators for biodiversity and food security with the younger students. I also discussed careers in science with A-Level students. There was good interaction and many questions surrounding both topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | How virus tracking can help us prevent future pandemics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | UAR interviewed Professor Munir Iqbal, head of the Avian Influenza group at The Pirbright Institute, https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/prof-munir-iqbal. The Pirbright Institute specialises in the research and diagnosis of livestock viral diseases and viruses that spread from animals to humans. The Institute is part of an international network that tracks viruses and formulates ways to control and prevent outbreaks, such as creating new vaccines and better diagnostics. While the Covid-19 pandemic grabs the headlines there are other, potentially more deadly viruses, spreading through the animal kingdom, which may have the capacity to infect humans. Perhaps the most well-known pandemic agent - before Covid-19 - was the flu virus. The 1918 influenza pandemic, caused by an H1N1 virus of avian origin, was the most severe pandemic in recent history, infecting one-third of the world's population and killing at least 50 million worldwide. These viruses evolve, so every year the world is at risk of a new strain of flu. One related virus that caused the 2009 swine flu pandemic killed over 200,000 people worldwide. Professor Munir Iqbal heads up the Avian Influenza Virus group at The Pirbright Institute. This group is imitating natural selection and evolution of influenza viruses in the lab. They hope to identify how viruses might change - potentially to be more dangerous. By identifying those changes they can make informed decisions about how to create vaccines against these potential new strains. A new strain, H7N9, emerged in China in February 2013, infecting both poultry and humans. Since then, there have been over 1500 confirmed human infections from this strain with an estimated 40% fatality rate. By 2017 the Chinese government had, very rapidly for a new vaccine, implemented a mass vaccination programme against H7N9 in poultry. This was accompanied by a striking reduction in human infection from this virus. At first this seemed to be good news, but it turns out that suboptimal vaccine practices were creating an evolutionary pressure for the virus to change - to escape the effects of vaccination. As the virus evolved it didn't infect human populations so well, but it became more aggressive in the poultry, even if they had been vaccinated. Iqbal explains, "At The Pirbright Institute, we study how these viruses evolve to persist in poultry and overcome vaccines, and how mutations impact virus virulence, transmission and, pathogenicity. Ultimately this will give us information on bird-to-human transmission and help develop diagnostic tools and vaccines to better fight the virus." Disease transmission has to be studied in chickens but disease virulence can be quantified using chicken eggs. 14 day-old fertilised eggs are infected with the virus which then replicate. The faster the virus replicates in the embryo, the more virulent the strain. "The quantity of virus being produced often equates to the aggressiveness of the disease. Very often viral infection depends on the amount of virus that you come in contact with. One particle might not infect animals or humans, but thousands could. In the same way, a smaller amount of virus might be needed to infect poultry compared to humans. We live alongside loads of virus without getting sick until we come across an amount large enough to cause an infection," explains Iqbal. By imitating the natural selection process in the lab, the researchers identified the specific mutation that allowed the Chinese H7N9 virus to escape vaccine-induced immunity. They were also able to predict the evolution of influenza viruses. Three mutations that were observed in the lab have since been found in the field in 2019. "These changes can have a huge impact in terms of virus transmission, virus virulence and virus transfusion across species from avian-to-human, avian-to-avian, or even to different mammalian species," adds Iqbal. Fortunately for us, these three mutations prevent H7N9 viruses from binding to human cells, but increase their binding, replication and stability in chicken cells and embryos. This means that the strains that had evolved around the vaccination posed a lower threat to humans, but an increased risk to poultry. Mass vaccination of poultry against H7N9 strains in China might have been beneficial to humans, driving virus evolution away from a human pandemic, but it also meant that the evolved viruses posed an even greater threat to poultry. However, this might not be the case for all strains warns Iqbal. Not all mutations that arise due to vaccine induced evolution, push viral strains away from human infection. In the future, other mutations may have human pandemic potential or be even more deadly to poultry. Influenza viruses are a particular risk, as they infect a huge range of animals and mutate rapidly, which gives them the capacity to jump species and evade the immune system. They are particularly a cause for concern, because they circulate in livestock such as pigs and poultry which regularly come into close contact with humans. Using a method that can predict how vaccination may change influenza virus characteristics is potentially valuable for making new vaccines against these fast evolving viruses. These predictions could also provide advanced warning of mutations that could increase likelihood of human infection. Looking out for these viral mutations in the global health surveillance programme can help in the monitoring for potential threats. This might allow us to get ahead of them, by developing and using new vaccines, before new viral variants have a chance to spread and spiral out of control in a new pandemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/research-medical-benefits/how-virus-tracking-can... |
| Description | Human Infection Challenge Models Network |
| 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 | HIC-Vac is an international network of researchers who are developing human infection challenge (HIC) studies to accelerate the development of vaccines against pathogens of high global impact. The goal is to foster an engaged and interactive community of international researchers to promote open sharing of knowledge and expertise, generate new ideas, support and share best practice, and form new cross-discipline collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Identification of antigenic epitopes to broaden and enhance the efficacy of avian influenza vaccines. Presented at 6th Animal Vaccines and immune Adjuvant Technologies Salon & Advanced seminar, Shandong-Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, China, 18-20 October 2019. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion was the best practices to improve control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) for prevention of avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Illumina EMIDA seminar series - Graham Freimanis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Applying High-Throughput Sequencing to Animal Health Research. Illumina internal staff seminar series. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Imagineering Fair |
| 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 | Talked to the general public about Pirbright science and Beekeeping |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Immuno-pathobiology of H9N2 avian influenza viruses: looking at how the viruses evolve and persist in poultry. Presented at "Techniques for Healthy Farming and Diseases Prevention & Control of Livestock and Poultry. Beijing, August 13th-15th, 2018. |
| 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 | Dissemination of research outputs. Improvement of vaccines and diagnostics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Immunology workshop University of Surrey |
| 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 | 2 hour practical discussion workshop on Immunology of viral infection - regular event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | Improvement in the Production Systems and Potency of Poultry Vaccines. Virtual meeting organised by Hi-Tech Poultry Breeders (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore, Pakistan. 17th January 2022 |
| 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 | A talk entitled "Improvement in the Production Systems and Potency of Poultry Vaccines" was presented by Munir Iqbal to veterinary field staff working on poultry production, particularly prevention and control of infectious diseases. The Audience was very much impressed with the new improved technology that enhance the potency of poultry vaccines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Improving Breadth and Duration of Immunity of Poultry Vaccines: Targeted Delivery of Antigens to Chicken Antigen Presenting Cells. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk entitled "Improving Breadth and Duration of Immunity of Poultry Vaccines: Targeted Delivery of Antigens to Chicken Antigen Presenting Cells" presented by Professor Iqbal at 2022 Yangzhou International Conference on Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety - Germplasm Innovation and Agri-Product Safety on 30th November 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Improving Potency of Poultry Vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research outcomes were presented by Munir iqbal at the 2022 International Animal Husbandry: High quality development of animal health and animal husbandry- Virtual Scientific Conference, on 19-Nov-2022, hosted by Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Improving Potency of Poultry Vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A talk entitled "Improving Potency of Poultry Vaccines" presented by Munir Iqbal to post graduate students at meeting "The 2022 International Animal Husbandry High-Quality Development Conference" on On 19th November 2022 hosted by Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College. More than 300 post graduate and university staff from Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College attended the meeting and discussed the advanced in the strategies to reduce the impacts of avian influenza viruses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Improving Poultry Vaccines, Virtual presentation to staff and postgraduate students at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan |
| 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 | The overview was presented on the development of next-generation of poultry vaccines. The new vaccine technology selectively targets chicken immune cells and induces faster and stronger immunity against poultry viral diseases. A huge interest in the subject was perceived and everyone was interested in the new technology and eager in suggesting that this vaccine should be taken forward for commercial production and field use. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Improving Vaccines against Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Viruses |
| 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 Sino-European Modern Livestock and Poultry Industry Technical Innovation seminar and the launch of the Joint Laboratory of China and European Countries. Shandong Binzhou Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine Academy, Binzhou, 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. 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 | Improving vaccines and diagnostics for Avian influenza viruses affecting poultry. Presented at the International Poultry Expo "Poultry Science Conference", Lahore, Pakistan, 13-15 September 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk and the discussion was the best practices to improve control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) for prevention of avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Inception meeting for a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Global Research Translation Awards, 12.11.2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Inception meeting for a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Global Research Translation Awards, 12.11.2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Influenza antibodies reduce disease in chickens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research outputs were mass comminated for the general public via a news story. cientists have engineered synthetic antibody molecules that can be administered to poultry to reduce the symptoms of influenza. The molecules also decrease the amount of influenza virus shed into the environment, suggesting there is potential for their use as immunotherapy treatments to reduce the burdens of influenza in poultry. The research, conducted by a team at the Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK, involved generating synthetic antibodies against the H9N2 strain of avian influenza, which poses significant risks to both the poultry sector and wider avian and mammalian species due to its ability to adapt to new hosts through mutation. The modified antibody segments, known as single chain variable fragment antibodies (scFvs), were shown to prevent the H9N2 virus from entering cells in laboratory tissue cultures. Further testing showed that chickens immunised intranasally with scFvs produced lower levels of virus and presented decreased weight loss compared to those that had not received treatment. The scFvs antibodies work by binding to proteins on the outside of the influenza virus, called haemagglutinin (HA), that attach to receptors on host cells. The prevents the virus from entering the cell and replicating, offering rapid protection to infected birds. To create the scFVs, the team immunised mice with an influenza vaccine, which triggered the production of mouse antibodies that could neutralise the H9N2 virus. The genetic code for 2 section of the antibodies that bind to the HA protein was then sequenced. Using genetic engineering, they linked these 2 sections together to create one new smaller antibody molecule (the scFvs). By generating these smaller molecules, the team was able to overcome issues presented by using whole antibodies, such as lower production rates and increased likelihood of immune rejection by species other than chickens. These results are encouraging and demonstrate that scFvs could provide a quick and efficient way of reducing the clinical signs of influenza and its spread in infected flocks, reducing the risk of transmission from poultry to humans." - Professor Munir Iqbal Published in Vaccines, the scFvs created in this study have additional advantages including their ability to be mass-produced in insect cells and the fact they could work against the virus in all hosts without adaption. Commenting on the results, Professor Munir Iqbal, head of the avian influenza group at Pirbright, said: "These results are encouraging and demonstrate that scFvs could provide a quick and efficient way of reducing the clinical signs of influenza and its spread in infected flocks, reducing the risk of transmission from poultry to humans. "The next step will be to establish the best method for administration, whether this is intranasal, as we have done in this study, or via aerosol or viral vector delivery systems." Prof Iqbal added that the type of immunotherapy could be used to treat other viral diseases of poultry and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.poultryworld.net/health-nutrition/influenza-antibodies-reduce-disease-in-chickens/ |
| Description | Influenza update meeting (Pengxiang Chang) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | presented work entitled: Antigenic characterization of avian influenza H7N9 virus by in vitro immune escape mutant selection method. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Initiation of a mass vaccination campain ( 2018) in TamilNadu, India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Scientists from The Pirbright Institute's Vaccine Differentiation group have recently returned from Chennai in India, where they conducted a mass peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccination campaign and awareness programme. They joined scientists from four specialist organisations; Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) and National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI). Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as goat plague, is highly contagious and infects small ruminants such as sheep and goats, causing up to 90% mortality. The disease is prevalent across large parts of Africa, the Middle East, India and China and is estimated to cost between US$1.4 billion and US$2.1 billion globally each year. In 2017, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) introduced a global eradication programme to reduce the devastating impact PPR has on the economy and food security of affected countries. "Over 40 vets joined our vaccination campaign in the Tanir Kulum village of Tiruvallur District, TaminNadu (close to Chennai), where we administered vaccines to over 400 sheep and goats in a single day. We also ran an awareness camp where we provided farmers and vets alike with expert guidance on diagnosing clinical signs of PPR and what measures they could take to reduce its spread", said Professor Satya Parida from Pirbright, who led the collaborative effort with Dr Dhinakar Raj from TANUVAS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2018/09/pirbright-scientists-run-vaccination-campaign-eradicate-pes... |
| Description | Innovate Guildford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Represented the Pirbright Institute at Innovate Guildford Science Fair |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Innovate Guildford (Angita Shrestha): |
| 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 | GENERAL SCIENCE |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Innovate Guildford - DB & KC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public science event where team members participated on a Pirbright Institute stand which contained activities to help the public understand how scientists can help to contain and control viral outbreaks. Over 500 members of the general public attended which stimulated increased interest in science and research and led to requests for more information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Innovate Guildford Outreach (12th March) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | With amazing exhibits, activities, workshops, talks and competitions, it's FREE to attend. Explore the four zones: Engineering, One Health, Digital Media and Future Living, experience interactive performances, hear inspiring speakers (including leading gaming pioneer Peter Molyneux and animal health pioneer Professor Nick Bacon) and take in an amazing atmosphere. Theatre, music and comedy will feature through the day, with everything from how technology might have affected Shakespeare's plays to risky recycling and photographic secrets. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.guildford.gov.uk/innovateguildford |
| Description | Innovate Guilford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Broadbent gave a talk at 'Innovate Guilford' Festival outlining the work we are doing with Avian Virus Vaccines, including those against IBDV. The aim was to raise public awareness on different avian viruses, and genetically modified vaccines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Innovate Guilford-AH, AA, ER, EL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | General science festival engaging the public in the research undertaken at Pirbright |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Inreview with Daily Telegraph about African swine fever |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with reporter from Daily Telegraph about African swine fever virus and risks to UK farmers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/12/uk-farmers-warned-alert-african-swine-fever-virus-hits-e... |
| Description | Inspire Guildford County School Careers Fair |
| 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 | Giulia and Isobel represented The Pirbright Institute at the career fair at the Guildford College in a context of many other businesses and University representatives. The aim was to show the range of careers that are possible within a range of industries. For this event Giulia was in charge of the Institute stand and could speak about careers in science and the research carried out at The Pirbright Institute. Students were engaging in our activities for promoting interaction and showed a high level of interest for science and research careers requesting more information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Interactions between receptor-binding, immune evasion and glycan shielding. Presented by Joshua Sealy at Biophysics and evolution: improving models to predict influenza vaccine effectiveness) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Influenza viruses have an error-prone polymerase complex that facilitates a mutagenic environment. Antigenic mutants swiftly arise from this environment with the capacity to persist in both humans and economically important livestock even in the face of vaccination. Furthermore, influenza viruses can adjust the antigenicity of the haemagglutinin (HA) protein, the primary influenza immunogen, using one of four molecular mechanisms. Two prominent mechanisms are: (1) enhancing binding avidity of HA toward cellular receptors to outcompete antibody binding and (2) amino acid substitutions that introduce an N-linked glycan on HA that sterically block antibody binding. In this paper, we investigate the impact that adsorptive mutation and N-linked glycosylation have on receptor-binding phenotype, virus replicative fitness and antigenicity. We show that in the context of adsorptive mutation that N-linked glycosylation can mitigate virus attenuation. We show that in the absence of adsorptive mutation, N-linked glycosylation can attenuate virus this indicating a cooperative role between adsorptive mutation and N-linked glycosylation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.physicsoflife.org.uk/biophysics-and-evolution.html |
| Description | International Avian Respiratory Disease Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Michael presented his research at the 2018 International Avian Respiratory Disease Conference in the US to an audience of avian researchers and representatives form the poultry veterinary vaccine industry. This sparked discussion and potential future collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | International Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases conference health in Hanoi 17-19 January 2018. Purpose of the conference was to establish global partnerships and links between academic researchers and the poultry industry to improve joined up work in regards to preventing, controlling and combating avian diseases. The conferences provided a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas around the single theme of exploiting available opportunities to deal with emerging and existing infectious avian diseases in poultry production systems and to safeguard food supplies and human health. Conference speakers discuused basic, applied and commercial aspects of research on avian diseases including: • Evolution and Epidemiology of Avian Pathogens • Host-Pathogen Interactions - Virulence and Pathogenicity • Pathogen Mechanisms of Immune Evasion • Next Generation Disease Control Strategies • Vaccines • Immunity • Diagnostics • Zoonoses and Socio-economic impacts of avian diseases • Global Research Opportunities and Threats |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.theeventsportal.com/GARAD-2018/3/Home |
| Description | International Day of Women and Girls in Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a quote as a STEM ambassador about why I think it is important to make sure women and girls have the same opportunities in STEM. This was shared on social media to celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a UN-led initiative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | International Women's Day video for social media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Three team members were interviewed about their careers in science for International Women's Day. The videos were posted on Pirbright's website, Facebook and Twitter to celebrate what we love about working in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview for national newspaper |
| 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 | Interview with a journalist from The Telegraph about coronavirus replication and transmission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Interview with Associated Press |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with a journalist from Associated Press about coronavirus research at The Pirbright Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Interview with Associated Press on ASFV vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Associated Press |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://apnews.com/32f84f66ce77415b96c4e90915cce6ee |
| Description | Interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation on African swine fever virus impact and vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation about ASFV impact and vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-11-01/african-swine-fever-vaccine-development/11645366 |
| Description | Interview with BBC Radio 4 Inside Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interview with BBC Radio 4 Inside Science producers to inform them about African swine fever virus and our research on vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05v91jq |
| Description | Interview with BBC Radio Surrey |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with journalists from BBC Radio Surrey on the breakfast show about coronavirus research at The Pirbright Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Interview with BuzzFeed News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with a journalist from BuzzFeed News about coronavirus research at The Pirbright Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Interview with CNN on African swine fever virus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Nina Avramova from CNN International about African swine fever virus generally including transmission mechanisms and control strategies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/02/health/african-swine-fever-europe-china-spread-intl/index.html |
| Description | Interview with German Radio on African swine fever virus risks and vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio broadcast on German Radio |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Interview with Health for Animals about African swine fever vrius vaccine development and current situation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Interview with journalists from Health for Animals about African swine fever vaccine research published in a newsletter sent to 200 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://healthforanimals.org/resources-and-events/newsletter-repository/17-disease-outbreaks.html?q=... |
| Description | Interview with IEG Policay about ASFV vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Peter Rixon of IEG policy about the prospects for development of vaccines for African swine fever vrius |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://iegvu.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/CO221819/ASF-outbreak-in-Belgium-highlights-lack-... |
| Description | Interview with Journalist with The Scientist Magazine concerning ASFV vaccines and our research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Katya Zimmer Science Journalist with The Scientist Magazine published in July. This lead to follow up interviews for an in depth article on ASFV vaccines for the Scientist Magazine. In addition The Scientist published 4 Infographics images associated with the article |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.the-scientist.com/features/can-a-vaccine-save-the-worlds-pigs-from-african-swine-fever |
| Description | Interview with New Scientist Magazine about African swine fever virus spread and vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview for an article in New Scientist about impact of African swine fever in Asia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2222501-a-quarter-of-all-pigs-have-died-this-year-due-to-africa... |
| Description | Interview with United Press about ASFV vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with United Press International on Development of ASFV vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/07/12/World-races-to-develop-African-swine-fever-vaccine/671156... |
| Description | Interview with journalist and provided input to article on African swine fever vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviews with Katya Zimmer journalist with the Scientist Magazine and help with preparation of figures |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.the-scientist.com/features/can-a-vaccine-save-the-worlds-pigs-from-african-swine-fever--... |
| Description | Interviews to discuss COVID vaccine results |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio interviews (BBC Radio Surrey and Oxford), television interview (BBC South Today) and interviews with press to discuss results from our studies evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidates in pigs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | Investigating antigenic determinants inducing stronger and broader cross-protective immunity among H5 avian influenza viruses. Presented by Rebecca Daines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The global poultry industry is under immense strain to meet the demand for food for our ever-increasing population. This forces the need for larger poultry flocks, often with unsatisfactory disease control protocols, providing the perfect scenario for disease spread, in particular avian influenza virus (AIV). The epidemiology of AIV consistently evolves by mutation and re-assortment, encouraging the emergence of new subtypes with the ability to escape current vaccine-induced immune responses. These new subtypes can cause a significant threat to both animal and human health. The most recent report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) between 2013 and 2018 reported 68 countries and territories affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds with estimated losses of 122 million birds due to illness or cull. The current circulating subtypes to be of a global public health concern are the H5 and H7 AIV subtypes, having demonstrated the ability to develop zoonotic potential, often driven by the increasing human activities involved to meet resource demand. Current precautionary control methods predominantly focus on biosecurity and vaccination developed from local circulating strains. Vaccination utilises the strain specific structure of the viral surface proteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, the target of the immune response and also the site of viral binding, to elicit the production of specific antibodies. However, due to constant mutation and reassortment, new strains emerge which are no longer fully-neutralised by the antibodies induced from vaccination as the structure of the antigenic sites of surface proteins are no longer complimentary. The acquired evolutionary mutations can also contribute in enhancing viral fitness, transmissibility and/or host range. We are investigating the antigenic determinants of the H5 subtypes of AIV to allow a deeper understanding of the pattern of mutations and consequential fitness costs of the viruses which escape from vaccine-induced antibody immune pressure. From the results of this analysis, a recombinant AIV with the haemagglutinin of known sequence can induce an immune response that provides a broader cross-protective immunity to different antigenic divergent strains/clades of H5 AIV. A broader cross-reactive vaccine will impact the poultry industry socio-economically in respect of potentially preventing morbidity and/or mortality of domestic poultry from the H5 AIV infection, The ultimate aim of our research is for the findings to be put forward as a potential global vaccine candidate and evaluated for its efficacy. To facilitate a wider dissemination and awareness of this project, the findings will be published in relevant veterinary journals and where possible, higher impact journals. Utilising our collaborators in the UK, Pakistan, Vietnam, Egypt and Bangladesh, stakeholders and global corporations such as OIE, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the improved vaccine would be integrated into endemic countries, primarily targeting those already using vaccination as a method of AIV control in poultry. If the vaccine is successfully integrated into the AIV policy for global control, it will reduce the virus prevalence in the environment, the emergence of antigenically distinct strains, thus minimising the risk of zoonotic transmission and emergence of novel AIV strains with pandemic potential. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Investigating avian influenza antigenic evolution and improving potency of poultry vaccines (Internal seminar) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk presented describing how the genetic evolution of avian influenza viruses can result in vaccine failure and how we developed approaches that improve the effectiveness of poultry vaccines to reduce the economic loss in poultry. We describe our research data H5 subtype of avian influenza viruses are evolving rapidly and being classified into different clades. These viruses carry significant antigenic heterogeneity and a single candidate vaccine may not be able to protect against the virus variants infecting poultry in different countries around the globe. Our data will allow for the generation of vaccines that are better strain-matched, thus reducing the impact of AIVs in the poultry industry. We also present our work on the development of next-generation poultry vaccines termed "Targeted Antigen Delivery Vaccine (TADV)" that selectively deliver vaccine antigens to the chicken immune cells known as Antigen-presenting cells and potentiates immunogenicity of the vaccine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited Keynote Presentation on African swine fever and vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Keynote presentation at China Animal Breeding and Genetics conference December Guangzhou, attended by more than 2000 delegate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited Keynote Speaker International Society of Veterinary Epidemiology and Ecology, China Mai Thailand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk on progress towards African swin efever virus vaccine development at ISVEE meeting Thailand |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk titled 'Design and evaluation of biomimetic particulate formulations of viral antigens as veterinary vaccines' presented at VaxInLive 2018 Symposium, Lyon, France. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://clarolineconnect.univ-lyon1.fr/icap_website/view/1228 |
| Description | Invited Presentation |
| 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 | Presentations at the European PRRS Research Award ceremonies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Invited Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk titled 'Identification of viral targets of host T cell immunity for development of livestock vaccines' presented at the British Society for Immunology Congress, Brighton, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2017 |
| URL | https://www.bsicongress.com/ |
| Description | Invited Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk entitled 'Identification of viral targets of host T cell immunity for development of livestock vaccines' presented at the International Symposium on Human and Veterinary Viruses 2018: From Research to Application, Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.biotec.or.th/virus-symposium2018/index.php |
| Description | Invited Presentation to Pig Veterinary Society Birmingham UK October 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited Seminar China Agricultural University Beijing September 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar at China Agricultural University Veterinary Faculty on "African swine fever virus evasion of host defences and vaccine development". Discussion with faculty and postgraduate students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited as PPR vaccine expert to vaccine producers meeting at Jordan, Amman-organised by OIE and FAO PPR secretariat-13.04.19-17.4.19, |
| 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 | Invited as PPR vaccine expert to vaccine producers meeting at Jordan, Amman-organised by OIE and FAO PPR secretariat-13.04.19-17.4.19, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited oral presentation at the Shaping Host-Microbiome Interactions to Promote Livestock Health and Productivity Symposium, Bath |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented current understanding on the impact of the gut microbiome on vaccine responsiveness and how this could be influenced. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited presentation: 'Beyond Jenner: The Future of Vaccines', Discovery Day, Dr Jenner House Museum and Gardens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited by the British Society for Immunology to give a presentation on vaccine research at the 'Beyond Jenner: The Future of Vaccines', Discovery Day, Dr Jenner House Museum and Gardens, Berkeley, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited seminar at INRAE, France |
| 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 to present our recent and ongoing PRRSV research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited speaker British Society of Veterinary Pathology Annual Meeting 2018, Applied Ruminant Pathology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker on "Bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus - recognising the continued threat of Culicoides-borne viruses of ruminants" British Society of Veterinary Pathology Annual Meeting 2018, Applied Ruminant Pathology School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, 29th of September 2018, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.bsvp.org/event/applied-ruminant-pathology-disease-investigation-diagnosis-and-surveillan... |
| Description | Invited speaker at Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock webinar on alternatives to antibiotics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker at Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock webinar on alternatives to antibiotics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://cielivestock.co.uk/events/ciel-insights-member-only-webinar-alternatives-to-antibiotics/ |
| Description | Invited speaker at Imperial College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk on our recent research in swine influenza. Discussions with PIs at Imperial after the talk. Established collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker at St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave presentation on our pig influenza model to colleagues at Imperial College. Established collaboration to evaluate LAIV in pigs and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited speaker at the British VeterinaryPoultry Association 2018 meeting at Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present my research findings at the British Veterinary Poultry Association 2018 meeting, held at Boehringer Ingelheim. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker, . Jenner Symposium, Royal Society, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk on One Health vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited speaker, Merseyside BSI Affinity group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I described the methods we used to identifyTissue resident memory cells in pigs, which sparked a lively discussion and interest in the technique. As a result I have established two collaborations with colleagues from Liverpool. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker, Surrey University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Under- and postgraduate students attended a talk I gave at the Department of Biological Sciences in Surrey. There was a lively discussion afterwards and as a result I have established a new collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker, VIRCON (Indian Society for Virology) International Satellite Symposium. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker: Developing a 'One Health' Nipah virus vaccine to protect animal and public health. VIRCON (Indian Society for Virology) International Satellite Symposium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited speaker, Vienna Veterinary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Gave a guest lecture at the Veterinary school in Vienna. There were a lot of questions and discussion after the talk. As a result established collaboration with Gerner Wilhelm's group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/de/graduate-school-pig-and-poultry-medicine/ |
| Description | Invited talk at Agricultural Science congress at New Delhi, India, February-2019- Use of reverse genetics to study the early pathogenesis and to develop marker vaccines for PPR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 1. In a DBT-BBSRC FADH grant, The Pirbright Institute in collaboration with four Indian partners (TANUVAS, IVRI, NIAB and NIVEDI) has developed a PPR vaccine, which will be the first to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA), for which a patent application has been filed. Scientists have manipulated in the genome of PPR full length cDNA and rescued the DIVA vaccine virus using reverse genetic technique. Further this vaccine has been tested in goats providing full safety and potency upon virulent virus challenge. In contrast to current vaccine, this new DIVA vaccine can differentiate between naturally infected and vaccinated animals, therefore will help in meaningful assessment of vaccine coverage and epidemiological surveillance based on serology, in turn increasing the efficiency of control programmes. 2. Little is known about the early events in the development of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus (PPRV) infection. The current dogma is that similar to RPV, PPRV replicates primarily in the epithelium of the respiratory tract before disseminating throughout the host. However, our investigations, using intranasal inoculation of PPRV containing GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) to mimic natural infection, indicate this is not the case and that immune cells in the pharyngeal tonsil is the primary target. This is a ground breaking discovery which changes the PPR pathogenesis. This infectious GFP virus is made from a synthetic cDNA of field virus (PPRV/Mor-08) using reverse genetics technique under FADH grant. The presentation sparked questions and discussions after the talk. Two PPR DIVA vaccines developed and the mechanism of PPR virus pathogenesis explained. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited talk at International High-End Conference on the Challenges in Veterinary Vaccine Development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at International High-End Conference on the Challenges in Veterinary Vaccine Development on ASFV subunit vaccines. Chinese Academy of Engineering and Henan Agricultural University from December 4th to 6th, 2021 in Zhengzhou City, China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Invited talk at Nipah Virus International Conference, Singapore |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation on our ongoing work to develop a Nipah virus vaccine for pigs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited talk at World Vaccine Congress, Washington DC, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed the potential for structural vaccinology to advance livestock vaccine development including examples of FMDV, bRSV and PRRSV |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited talk on new generation FMD vaccines at NIAB faculty |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an invited talk on new generation FMD vaccines to inform the collaborator how TLR III adjuvant lingers the duration of immunity. The talk initiated sparking questions after the talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited to attend and present at the RSPCA Lay members Forum, Royal Society London 10th of December 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Invited to attend to the RSPCA Lay members Forum, Royal Society London 10th of December 2018 and present on the ethical review process of animal research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://science.rspca.org.uk/sciencegroup/researchanimals/ethicalreview/differentsystems/uk/events |
| Description | Invited to give a seminar at the Clinical and Molecular Virology Institute, Erlangen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by Professor Tenbusch to give a talk on our work on porcine tissue resident memory cells. We have established a very productive collaboration, applied for and were awarded joint funding and his PhD student has come to a working visit to our Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Isabelle Dietrich - Bishop David Brown School Careers Fair |
| 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 | >100 students attended careers fair. Informed students about The Pirbright Institute's work and career opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Isabelle Dietrich - Collingwood College Careers Fair |
| 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 | >100 students attended careers fair. Informed students about The Pirbright Institute's work and career opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Joined as a FAO expert at Chiang Mai, Thailand for PPR and FMD control in SAARC region and delivered two invited talks- 16.06.19-23.06.19 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Joined as a FAO expert at Chiang Mai, Thailand for PPR and FMD control in SAARC region and delivered two invited talks on FMD and PPR Global situations- 16.06.19-23.06.19 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | KR (JH) Ash Manor Talks: Immune system |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Series of talks presented at Ash Manor School - this is a regular annual event and is an opportunity to present to school students. This year the talks were about the immune system and students always ask questions and the talks always generate lots of interest and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Kate Dulwich presented her data at the 2019 Microbiology Society Annual Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Kate Dulwich presented a poster at the Microbiology Society Annual Meeting in 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Keynote Presentation China Swine Society Conference 2019 Qingdao China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Keynote presentation at China Swine Society Conference 2019 Qingdao attended by ~1300 scientist and practitioners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Keynote Presentation European Society for Veterinary Virology Ghent Belgium Sep 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | More than 500 people attended an International Conference on Veterinary Virology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://esvv2022.ugent.be/ |
| Description | Keynote Presentations at International Workshop on African swine fever virus Beijing September 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The International Workshop on African swine fever virus was organised by the US/China Animal health Network and attended by ~50 people comprising leading International experts, policy makers, postgraduate students and experts from industry. The aim was to review current knowledge on ASFV and identify areas for future research. A report on the meeting and outcomes was published in Viruses. It is expected that future meetings will be organised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Kingdown School Warminster Wiltshire talk to 6th form students about career in science. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I presented my career path to the students to engage them on STEM careers. I had a good level of discussion and many questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | LSD Epizone 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation at 13th annual epizone meeting, Berlin 2019. "Risk of transmission of LSDV from experimentally infected cattle to insect vectors". Beatriz Sanz Bernardo. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Laboratory Science Animal association (LASA) meeting in Birmingham, Invited speaker |
| 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 | Gave a presentation on the tools we have developed to study swine influenza |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.lasa.co.uk/meetings/ |
| Description | Latest Pirbright collaboration uncovers genetic markers that could guide avian influenza surveillance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research outputs were mass comminated for the general public via a news story. This was published online at the Pirbright Institute webpage and One Health Poultry Health webpage and distributed wildly on social media including Facebook, Twitter, In Share. Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have identified the genetic markers on avian influenza ('bird flu') viruses that could help the viruses to jump the species barrier and cause disease in people, in collaboration with other members of the One Health Poultry Hub. Co-investigators Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Joshua Sealy worked with scientists at Imperial College London, the University of Glasgow and The Francis Crick Institute, to show how the genetic traits of avian influenza H9N2 viruses influence their preference for infecting bird or human cells. The paper detailing their findings, 'Genetic determinants of receptor-binding preference and zoonotic potential of H9N2 avian influenza viruses' is published in the Journal of Virology. The research identifies genetic traits that alter a key H9N2 viral protein, called haemagglutinin, that makes it easier for the virus to recognise and bind to different cell receptors. This is the first step of viral infection, and the general inability of avian influenza viruses to effectively bind to human receptors is a major reason why they do not, in general, jump the species barrier to people. However, given that human infections with H9N2 have been detected on an almost monthly basis since 2015, there may be a capacity for these viruses to evolve and gain the ability to efficiently target cellular receptors in people. This latest discovery reveals which haemagglutinin properties of existing H9N2 strains allow them to bind to human receptors more effectively. These included small genetic differences as well as the overall structure and charge of the haemagglutinin protein. These findings will help guide future avian influenza surveillance by providing the genetic markers that signify the emergence of viruses with the potential to transmit to people. There have been more than 60 cases recorded of people infected with H9N2 influenza viruses to date in 2020, all in countries where the virus is endemic. However, these viruses have not adapted to spread efficiently from person to person, a key element of a virus that has the potential to cause a pandemic. Professor Iqbal and his team at Pirbright have previously described H9N2 viruses which showed a preference for human-like receptors. Professor Iqbal said: "Understanding more about which traits increase the likelihood of H9N2 viruses jumping into humans help to identify viruses that could pose a future threat. Keeping an eye on viruses with these traits can help us to be prepared in the event that one of them evolves to pass between people rather than only from birds to humans." This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) the Medical Research Council (MRC) both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2021/01/latest-pirbright-collaboration-uncovers-genetic-markers-cou... |
| Description | Laura Dunn - Female role models |
| 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 | Careers day for secondary school students, with the focus on careers for women in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Laura Dunn - Surrey Vet School Open Day |
| 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 | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Providing information about a career in research to prospective veterinary students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Lecture on entereic coronaviruses to MSc Students (Surrey) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A lecture was presented on the pathology, diagnosis and detection of enteric coronaviruses, including virus replication and interaction with the host. The students were engaged and asked/answered question throughout the session. We were invited to repeat the lecture for the subsequent student intakes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2018 |
| Description | Lecture to MSc studnets University of Surrey |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture on African swine fever virus to MSc students University of Surrey Veterinary faculty |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Lorin Adams (Gordon's School Careers Fair) |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Describe the research that lead to improve control systems against infectious viral diseases of animals and from animals to humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Lumpy Skin Disease D2R2 profile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Provided expert opinion to the assessment (D2R2) of the risk of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) to the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | MDV conference Tours 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | During the 11th International Symposium on Marek's Disease and Avian Herpesviruses, which took place from 6 to 9 July 2016, Paolo Ribeca gave a talk on "Attenuation of MDV: an RNA-seq based perspective". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | MSc student visit |
| 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 | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I hosted several MSc students from University of Surrey, discussed avian research with them and demonstrated some laboratory techniques. The students gained an understanding of academic research and laboratory work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Mapping antigenic determinants of H9N2 avian influenza viruses and improving vaccines and diagnostics" presented at Foreign Talent Lecture: New strategies and new techniques for the prevention and control of major avian diseases. Shandong Binzhou Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine Academy, Binzhou, China. 6th August 2018. |
| 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 | The focus of the meeting was to improve the control systems against poultry diseases including development of improved vaccines and diagnostics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Member of BBSRC sLoLa grants committee |
| 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 | Member of sLoLa Committee to shortlist outline applications and review/assess application at the full stage of submission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Member of a BBSRC expert group on the use of animal models in research |
| 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 | Reviewed the key findings of the survey and identify key trends and emerging opportunities. Reviewed the proposed recommendations, discuss the challenges and barriers surrounding the use of models, and suggest how UKRI-BBSRC can help overcome these. Identified key stakeholders that UKRI-BBSRC could partner with to act on recommendations and how the report should be disseminated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Microbiology Society Annual Meeting, Belfast, 8-11 April 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk to present project results to date - describing the interaction of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) with monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC). Stimulating increased interest in science and research at The Pirbright Institute |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Microbiology Society Annual conference (UK) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Poster or oral presentation at Microbiology Society annual conference, a major international event. The participants included researchers from many different areas of science. This provides a platform to promote research to a wider audience as well as discuss the key findings with experts in my own field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | Microbiology Society Avian Focus Meeting (UK) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I gave a 15 minute oral presentation to an audience of around 80 people in 2016 and 2018. The audience consisted of researchers from many different scientific institutions from different areas of avian research. This was a great opportunity to present to experts in this field and gain novel insights into the project and the possible applications of my work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2018 |
| Description | Microbiology Society conference 2022 - Mathilde Laureti |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Large Microbiology Conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Microbiology Society talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation at Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Mock Interview Programme Cove School- Ai, AA |
| 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 | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Molecular Determinants for Antigenicity and Vaccine Efficacy of H9 and H7 Avian Influenza Viruses. Newton Agham Researcher Links Workshop: Novel vaccines and diagnostics technologies against Emerging and re-emerging veterinary Pathogens. 4-7 February 2019 at Rizal Pak Hotel, Manila, Philippines. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Molecular determinants modulating avian influenza H7N9 virus antigenicity. Presented at The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2019, 8-11 April ICC Belfast, UK. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Molecular determinants of antigenicity of H7 and H9 avian Influenza viruses. Presented as invited speaker at BBSRC UK-India Partnering Award seminar: University of Liverpool. 2 May 2019. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| 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 | Munir Iqbal: Cheltenham Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Describe the research that lead to improve control systems against infectious viral diseases of animals and from animals to humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Networking presentation-INRA, Paris, France |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation at INRA describing the role of the SH protein of BRSV in modulating immune responses in calves. This presentation resulted in a heated debate on the role of viral proteins in immune evasion and their activities in attenuated vaccines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | New rapid protection bird flu vaccine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research outputs were mass comminated for the general public via a news story. This was published online on Poultry world (Poultry World edition 10 of 2021 now online) entitled. New rapid protection bird flu vaccine. Professor Munir Iqbal, head of the Avian Influenza Virus group at Pirbright Institute, speaks to Poultry World about the potential of an improved poultry influenza vaccine that triggers a rapid immune response that protects chickens against signs of disease and reduces the amount of virus that they could pass on. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://content.yudu.com/web/1r3p1/0A1zifp/PoultryWorld2021-10/html/index.html?origin=reader&page=30 |
| Description | New rapid protection bird flu vaccine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article published in the magazine "Poultry World) by Freelance journalist Natalie Berkhout describing the development of a new methods have been developed to enhance the immune response that vaccines produce and reduce the amount of virus that birds shed into the environment. One technique involves tagging flu virus proteins with a marker that makes them easier for antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to capture. These immune cells can efficiently process the tagged proteins, resulting in a robust and long-lasting antiviral response in chickens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.poultryworld.net/health-nutrition/health/new-rapid-protection-bird-flu-vaccine/ |
| Description | Newton Agham Researcher Links Workshop on "Novel Vaccines and Diagnostic Technologies Against Emerging and Re-emerging Veterinary Pathogens, Rizal Park Hotel, Manila, Philippines 4-7 February 2019 |
| 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 | The primary aim of this workshop was to forge long-term research partnerships between early-career researchers, livestock industry and national disease control authorities in the UK and the Philippines. The workshop provided information on emerging and next generation diagnostic and vaccine strategies and their utilization to reduce the impact of viral diseases on livestock and poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.slideshare.net/zerep_cire/2019-newton-agham-researcher-links-workshop-vaccines-and-diagn... |
| Description | Next-generation poultry vaccines, presented by Munir Iqbal to the The Pirbright Institute Trustee Board and Science Advisory Board meeting on 20th July 2021. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Data was presented to the Pirbright Institute senior management on the development and potency of a new improved vaccine to protect poultry from avian influenza viruses. The new vaccine carries the potential to triggers a rapid immune response that protects chickens against signs of disease and reduces the level of virus that they could pass on, a key element to halting the spread of bird flu through flocks. The vaccine would also be easier and less costly to produce than the traditional flu vaccines made in chicken eggs. This vaccine is now being evaluated for large scale commercial production and deployment in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2021/07/pirbright%E2%80%99s-new-bird-flu-vaccine-provides-rapid-pro... |
| Description | Nidovirus symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I presented my work at the Nidovirus Symposium, which is held every three years and brings together researchers from industry and academia from many different countries. I had some interesting discussions with other researchers and built my network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | OIE technical webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | • OIE technical webinar title "Virtual Awareness program on LSD". I gave an invited lecture on aetiology, epidemiology and diagnosis of LSD. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | 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 | Opening of The Biggs Avian Research Facility |
| 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 | We presented our research and spoke to guests attending the opening of the Biggs Avian Research Facility at Pirbright. Guests who attended included politicians and members of the public from the local area, eminent researchers from other institutions, and members of BBSRC. Guests reported that they felt much more informed about the work going on at Pirbright and were impressed by our facilities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral and poster presentation at European Society of veterinary Virology and EPIZONE (ESVV/EPIZONE) at Vienna, Austria 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation has been made on early events of PPR virus pathogenesis. The presentation reveled that PPR virus first taken up by the immune cells to the Pharyngeal tonsil and then to other lymph nodes before generalisation of the disease. Secondary replication happens in epithelial cells. This alters the existing believe that virus primarily replicate in the epithelial cells. Similarly a poster presentation has been done to show the detection of nucleic acid of PPR virus during PPR eradication programme, nasal sample has been shown as the best sample for viral genome detection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Oral presentation at European Society for Veterinary Virology conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation at international scientific congress, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://esvv2022.ugent.be/ |
| Description | Oral presentation at International Pig Veterinary Symposium and International PRRS Symposium, Chongqing, China. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation on our PRRS research at the International Pig Veterinary Symposium and International PRRS Symposium, Chongqing, China. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Oral presentation at the Global Alliance for Research on Avian Disease meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam 15th -19th Jan 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk was given on the PB1-F2 function in avian influenza infection of avian hosts at the GARAD meeting. This meeting was attended by approximately 120 researchers and poultry industry members from a wide international geographic region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Organisation of Influenza meeting at Roslin Institute 21st-22nd November 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Along with Paul Digard (Edinburgh) and Edward Hutchinson (Glasgow) I helped to organize, plan and run a Influenza update meeting which ran for 2 days at The Roslin Institute in November 2017. The symposium was attended by approximately 60 influenza researchers from the UK. Talks were given by a range of people with student talks and posters being awarded prizes. This was supported by Medimmune and the Microbiology Society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Organised IVVN/BSI meting on T cell biology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised virtual T cell meeting: invited 8 speakers, opened the meeting, chaired session and closed the meeting. Highly successful meeting with 170 delegates from 28 countries and excellent feedback on scientific content, engagement and organisation. Brought together immunologists from the mouse, human and veterinary filed, facilitate exchange of ideas and new collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.immunology.org/frontiers-in-comparative-immunology-series-t-cell-biology-virtual-conferen... |
| Description | Organiser of the Animal Genetics and Diseases conference 08 - 10 May 2019 Wellcome Genome Campus, UK. Highlighting recent advances in animal genetics and genomic technologies. |
| 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 | I am on the organising committee for this conference. The second conference in this series will highlight recent advances in animal genetics and genomic technologies. It will bring together specialists working on the interface of genomics, genetic engineering and infectious disease with the aims of improving animal and human health and welfare. Novel genomic technologies, mathematical modelling and quantitative genetics approaches, applied to host animals, as well as their pathogens, have transformed the understanding of animal diseases, host-pathogen interactions and epidemiology and their effects on productivity of farmed animal species and food supply chains. This year's conference will not only put the spotlight on the immune response of host animals and epidemiology but also cover the genetics and genomics of pathogens and the impact of animal-human relationships. We encourage registrations from researchers, breeders and technical specialists interested in learning and disseminating the latest cutting-edge techniques and methodologies across model species, wildlife, farmed animals and companion animals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.org/our-events/animal-genetics-diseases-2019/?dm_... |
| Description | PPR eradication meeting organised by FAO and OIE at Rome and talk has been delived on Development of DIVA vaccines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Satya Parida is working as an expert to PPR eradication and he is being invited for few of FAO/OIE meetings. The meetings discussed about roadmap, vaccine production capacity and eradication policy. Satya also presented work on PPR DIVA vaccine and DIVA tests developments and their evaluation in goats. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | PPR vaccine producers meeting at MCI, Morocco organised by FAO/OIE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | PPR vaccine producers meeting at MCI, Morocco organised by FAO/OIE. Almost all PPR vaccine producers through out world joined this meeting. Satya Parida has presented a talk on vaccine development and transmission of PPR virus in North Africa. There was hues interest on the talk particularly the spread of PPR in North Africa and new vaccine development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Paolo's talk on FMDV vaccine matching |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Paolo Ribeca gave a talk at the 2018 Open Session of EuFMD (European commission for the control of foot-and-mouth disease ) on "Effective in-silico sequence-based prediction of FMDV vaccine matching" on behalf of Yasaman Kalantar-Motamedi, Mana Mahapatra, Luca Ferretti, Sophie Mahendran, Satya Parida, and himself. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Pengxiang Chang: Talk presentation:The application of CRISPR/Cas9 system in the generation of viral vectored avian influenza vaccines at Microbiology Society conference, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of vaccines to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://microbiologysociety.org/event/annual-conference/annual-conference.html |
| Description | Pengxiang Chang: UK-China Newton Fund (Poultry and swine) workshop at The Pirbright Institute.Oral presentation:Avian Influenza H7N9 Antigenic markers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Pengxiang Chang:Influenza update meeting. The application of CRISPR/Cas9 in the development of vaccines against avian influenza virus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Described techniques to improve and produce new effective vaccines against viral diseases of animals and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Pig and Poultry Fair 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussed Institute research with pig and poultry farmers, related industry and the general public. Received requests for more information related to research, business and studentships. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.pigandpoultry.org.uk/ |
| Description | Pirbright Dragon Fair - MZ |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Team members attended the locally held Dragon fair where the Pirbright Institute had a stand explaining the types of research that are conducted at the Institute, making our high containment science activities transparent to the local community. Approximately 60 people engaged with the stall to learn about the science happening on their doorstep. This stimulated interest in science and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Pirbright's new bird flu vaccine provides rapid protection, could reduce virus spread and is less costly to produce |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A news story was published online at the Pirbright Institute webpage and One Health Poultry Health webpage and distributed wildly on social media including Facebook, Twitter, In Share. Our research outputs were mass comminated for the general public. An improved poultry influenza vaccine has been developed by researchers from The Pirbright Institute. The potential vaccine triggers a rapid immune response which protects chickens against signs of disease and reduces the level of virus that they could pass on, a key element to halting the spread of bird flu through flocks. The vaccine would also be easier and less costly to produce than the traditional flu vaccines made in chicken eggs. Many poultry flu vaccines protect birds from serious illness and death, but do not prevent them from transmitting the virus. In recent years, new methods have been developed to enhance the immune responses that vaccines produce and reduce the amount of virus shed by birds into the environment. One of these techniques involves tagging flu virus proteins with a marker that makes them easier for Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) to capture. These immune cells can efficiently process the tagged proteins resulting in robust and long-lasting antiviral responses in chickens. For the first time, researchers at Pirbright have shown that tagging the flu virus haemagglutinin (HA) protein and directing it to target a specific protein on the chicken APCs, called CD83, generates faster and stronger immune responses against the H9N2 bird flu strain compared to the current industry standard inactivated virus vaccine. The results published in npj Vaccines revealed that the vaccine was both fast-acting and effective. Birds produced antibody responses as early as six days after vaccination and they shed significantly less flu virus when challenged with a natural flu strain, indicating the birds would be less likely to spread infection. High levels of protective antibodies were produced even when birds were given a reduced dose. As well as providing enhanced protection, this vaccine will be easier and less costly to manufacture. The tagged flu virus HA protein can be produced in a laboratory culture of insect cells instead of using eggs to grow live vaccine viruses. This would enable the poultry industry to reduce its reliance on chicken eggs for vaccine production, increasing the availability of eggs for use as a food source. The use of laboratory cells instead of eggs also highlights how Pirbright scientists actively develop animal health solutions that apply the principles of the 3Rs (Reduce, Refine, Replace) in animal research. As the new vaccine does not contain live flu virus, biosafety risks are reduced and no specialist high containment facilities would be required for production. These qualities make the vaccine very attractive for large scale manufacture. The Pirbright team is currently investigating the vaccine's potential for commercial production and use in the field. Professor Munir Iqbal, Head of Pirbright's Avian Influenza Virus group, said: "By targeting HA to chicken immune cells, we have generated a powerful addition to the armoury of poultry vaccines. Our improved vaccine could help prevent the spread of flu amongst vaccinated birds, which is essential for protecting poultry welfare, increasing food production, and reducing the risk of avian influenza spreading to humans." This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2021/07/pirbright%E2%80%99s-new-bird-flu-vaccine-provides-rapid-pro... |
| Description | Plenary talk at 7th European Vet workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a plenary talk on mucosal immunity at the 7th European Vet workshop. This updated the audience on the latest developments in targeting immunization to different regions and assessing immune responses. Several colleagues contacted me to conduce join stuies and established further collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Population Immunity to ASF |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was contacted by a journalist from Vet Record and discussed the implication of population immunity wrt ASFV in Europe for an article they were writing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Positive Strand Viruses Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a poster presentation. There were several different poster sessions at the conference allowing a large selection of people to view each poster. The audience included world leaders in my research field and important names from groups all over the world. This gave me the opportunity to discuss my work with other scientists on a one to one basis, leading to generation of new ideas for future experiments and collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2013,2016,2019 |
| Description | Postdocteral scientist - oral presentation at the 12th Annual meeting of Epizone (joint with 11th International Congress for Veterinary Virology, ESVV 2018) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Postdoctoral scientists abstract submission was selected for oral presentation. Project results obtained at the time were presented to a highly interested and engaging audience of more than 250 scientists, veterinarians, students and policymakers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.epizone-eu.net/en/Home/News/show/Abstract-book-EPIZONEESVV-meeting-now-online-.htm |
| Description | Poster Presentation at the 2020 British Society for Immunology Virtual meeting: "Connecting Immunology in the time of COVID-19" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Andrew Broadbent presented a digital poster at the British Society for Immunology 2020 online meeting entitled "Connecting Immunology in the time of COVID-19". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.immunology.org/events/bsi-congress |
| Description | Poster by Nick on the sequencing of Zimbabwe FMDV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Nick Knowles presented a poster at the 2018 Europic (the meeting of the European Study Group on the Molecular Biology of Picornaviruses) on "Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of Over 140 Foot-and-mouth Disease Viruses Isolated From Free-living African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Zimbabwe" on behalf of Jemma Wadsworth, Bruce Bolt, Luca Ferretti, Euan C. Anderson, Ashley Gray, Paolo Ribeca, and himself. The sequencing was funded by the Transboundary Pathogens portal project awarded to Pirbright. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Poster presentation at Microbiology Society Annual Conference - Assessing the impact of Rift Valley fever virus NSs protein inter-isolate variation on virulence and transmission |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Conference attendees attended the poster session which resulted in discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Poster presentation at Microbiology Society Annual Conference - Wnt signalling in Rift Valley fever virus infection of mosquito cells |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Conference attendees attended the poster session, which resulted in questions and discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Poster presentation: European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | David Goldeck (post-doctoral scientist) gave a poster presentation on our studies to isolate PRRSV-neutralising monoclonal antibodies from immune pigs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Poultry Stakeholders meeting hosted by Al Dousari Veterinary Services and Agriculture Co (Qatar ) in Qatar, 15 October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The focus of talk was best practices for prevention and control of Avian influenza disease outbreaks in poultry Vaccines and diagnostics for the control of avian influenza in poultry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poultry Stakeholders meeting hosted by Almarai, 15 October 2019 |
| 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 | Engagement with Almarai Poultry. The focus of the meeting with Almarai Poultry disease control team was to share knowledge on improved vaccination and diagnostic techniques against avian influenza viruses affecting poultry production. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poultry Stakeholders meeting in Kuwait city 16 October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prevention and control of avian influenza outbreaks in poultry. Described new vaccination and diagnostic technologies that provide more robust cross-protective immunity in emerging antigenic divergent strains of avian influenza viruses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poultry Vaccines Production approaches: Recombinant-HVT and subunit vaccines. Poultry stakeholders meeting with the field veterinarian. |
| 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 | A Talk entitled "Poultry Vaccines Production approaches: Recombinant-HVT and subunit vaccines" was presented by Munir Iqbal to field veterinarian working on prevention and control of poultry diseases. This poultry stakeholders meeting was held in Cairo, Egypt on12th February 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Preparation of presentation on African swine fever clinical signs and pathogenesis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prepared a presentation on African swine fever clinical signs and pathogenesis aimed at making farmers and veterinary practitioners aware. Presentation made available publically on the APHA, DEFRA and Pirbright websites. A follow up video was made by APHA and training for APHA veterinary services is planned |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://apha.defra.gov.uk/documents/surveillance/diseases/african-swine-fever-images.pdf |
| 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 American Society for Virology conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a keynote talk on "Rational vaccine design for the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus" at the ASV Satellite Symposium: Viral Pathogenesis and Prevention in Animals, discussed research and future plans with other researches in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation at Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of my research at the Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases Conference in Vietnam to approximately 80 conference participants resulted in discussions about future research directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation at Innovate Guildford Festival, Guildford, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Discussed the importance of livestock vaccines in preventing zoonoses |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at Microbiology Society Early Career Microbiologist Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | We presented a talk on "Examination of in vitro cell lines and ex vivo tracheal organ cultures for the study of porcine respiratory coronavirus" at the Early Career Microbiologist Forum organised by the Microbiology Society. This was a great opportunity for early career scientists to network with others and gain experience in presenting their research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation at Microbiology Society Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two presentations at Microbiology Society UK Annual Meeting Belfast April 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation at Microbiology Society Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed our work using the pig as a preclinical model to support COVID-19 vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation at Microbiology Society annual conference in Belfast |
| 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 "The canonical stem loop RNA structure of the s2m genetic element is not required for avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus replication in vitro however deletion of the s2m sequence results in a 36-nucleotide insertion" and "Characterising the ion channel inactivating mutations in the E protein of Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV)" during the virology workshops to other research scientists and students. We also presented a poster on "Examination of in vitro cell lines and ex vivo tracheal organ cultures for the study of porcine respiratory coronavirus". Good feedback was received and ideas generated for further research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation at Nidovirus 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 given on "The canonical stem loop RNA structure of the s2m genetic element in the avian coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus is not required for viral replication in vitro but may play a role during in vivo infection" at the poster session of the The XVth International Nidovirus Symposium. Discussions with other researchers in the coronavirus field resulted in new ideas to take the research forwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation at RIVR meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of my research at Recently Independent Virology Researchers (RIVR) meetings in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. I discussed my work and future collaborations with other virology researchers working in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| 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 World One Health Congress |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed our work to develop a 'One Health' Nipah virus vaccine to protect animal and public health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation at World Vaccine Congress Europe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed our work to develop a 'One Health' Nipah virus vaccine to protect animal and public health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| 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 Festival of Tomorrow, Science Swindon/UKRI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on developing livestock vaccines to prevent new/emerging diseases and the pig as a model to support COVID-19 vaccine development, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.scienceswindon.com |
| 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 Veterinary Research Club, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed our work using the pig as a preclinical model to support COVID-19 vaccine development. No known impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation by Dr Ana Reis 16th Applied Biosafety Meeting, Swiss Biosafety Network Geneva 25th to 26th August 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Reserach on African swine fever |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation by Dr Anusyah Rathakrishnan at European Society for Veterinary Virology Conference Ghent Sep 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation on development of live attenuated ASFV vaccine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation by RH at Nidovirus symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PhD student presented our data at the 14th international Nidovirus symposium. He discussed results and potential for future collaboration with other scientists in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation to BBSRC Executive Board |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I presented our research to the BBSRC Executive Board when they visited The Pirbright Institute in September 2018 and discussed the impacts of our work.. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation: BSI AGM: Immune regulation by the SH protein of BRSV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the BSI's AGM to describe the data generated regarding the role of the SH protein of BRSV in regulating immune responses after natural infections. Initiated a debate about the role of the SH protein of human RSV in immune regulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentations at Avian Research Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We have presented our research at the Avian Research Symposium organised by the National Avian Resource Facility at the Roslin Institute in 2021 (Rational vaccine design for the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus) and 2023 (Disruption of the s2m RNA structure in the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus results in reduced clinical disease during in vivo infection). We have engaged with other researchers to expand our network and discussed future research activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2023 |
| Description | Presentations at Microbiology Society focused conference on Avian Infectious Diseases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Microbiology Society supported a focused meeting on avian infectious disease research, bringing together scientists from all over the world to discuss their research. We gave presentations on "Characterisation of the Infectious Bronchitis Virus E Protein for Rational Vaccine Design" and "Rational vaccine design for the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus", received good feedback on our work and ideas for future research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentations at the UK International Coronavirus Network (UK-ICN) AGM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We presented research "The Genetic Stability, Replication Kinetics and Cytopathogenicity of Recombinant Avian Coronaviruses with a T16A or an A26F Mutation within the E Protein Is Cell-Type Dependent" and "A temperature sensitive recombinant of avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus provides complete protection against homologous challenge" and a poster on "A novel in-cell micro neutralisation assay for the human coronavirus OC-43: Allowing rapid and automated quantification of neutralising effect of antibodies and antiviral compounds" at the annual general meeting of the UK-ICN in Cambridge. We networked with other researchers working in the coronavirus field and discussed future research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentations to Veterinary Staff Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentations to Northern Ireland Veterinary Staff on African swine fever to explain risks, transmission routes diagnosis and vaccine development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| 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 a future pandemic by imitating natural selection |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | By Munir Iqbal A new type of avian influenza that can infect poultry and humans, called H7N9, emerged in China in February 2013. Since then, there have been over 1500 confirmed human infections with an estimated 40% case fatality rate. In the wake of COVID-19, these numbers may seem to be relatively small. But these statistics provide an example of the issues we face in controlling influenza viruses in animals and how understanding more about these viruses can help us to predict, prevent and control outbreaks, protecting both poultry and human health. Influenza viruses infect a huge range of animals, but the strains that are of greatest concern to us are those that circulate in livestock such as pigs and poultry, where people in farming industries have close contact with the animals. Influenza viruses can rapidly mutate, allowing them to escape the immune responses of the animals they infect and even jump to new species. There have been five major epidemic waves of H7N9 in China. The final wave in 2016-2017 saw the originally mild disease of poultry mutate to cause higher levels of mortality in chickens and spread almost everywhere in China. The severity of H7N9 AIV situation prompted the Chinese government to implement a mass vaccination programme against H7N9 in poultry in 2017. Since its use, the number of poultry outbreaks along with human infections has dropped dramatically, with only three human infection cases reported during 2017 to 2018 and one human infection case reported during 2018 to 2019. This may sound like vaccination has solved the problem and the virus will now be eradicated. Unfortunately, this is not the case - despite the reduction in disease outbreaks due to vaccination, these viruses have not been eradicated. This is partly because of influenza's high mutation rate - vaccination can inadvertently encourage the evolution of viruses with mutations that allow them to escape vaccine-induced immunity. Once a virus escapes, it can spread rapidly, thereby making the vaccine ineffective and a new one must be designed. This is where our research comes in. Our aim is to understand how H7N9 viruses could potentially mutate in the field in response to vaccination, and how these genetic changes could alter how the virus acts (for example, by making it more dangerous to poultry or by helping it to infect humans more effectively). By imitating the natural selection process in the lab, we found several mutations and identified that one specific mutation allows the virus to escape from vaccine-induced immunity. Importantly, three other mutations that we observed in our lab studies had been found in the field in 2019 indicating that our method can predict the evolution of influenza viruses. These three mutations prevent H7N9 viruses from binding to human cells, but increase their binding, replication and stability in chicken cells and embryos. This could mean that the strains which have these mutations pose a lower threat to human health, but increase the risk to poultry. This shows that mass vaccination of poultry against H7N9 strains in China drives virus evolution away from human pandemic. But viruses with 'escape mutations' remain a significant risk to poultry due to their ability to escape vaccine-induced immunity and persist in poultry. Our studies may also help to explain the Chinese government's successful control of H7N9 infection in humans by mass poultry vaccination. On one hand, the mass poultry vaccination protects the poultry from H7N9 infection and greatly reduces the risk of human infections as the majority of human H7N9 cases are linked to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. On the other hand, even when some viruses escape the vaccine-induced immunity, they pose reduced risk to humans due to the lost human receptor binding. However, this may not be the case for all strains. Other mutations may arise in the future that have human pandemic potential or are even more deadly to poultry. Using a method that can predict how vaccination may change influenza virus characteristics is hugely valuable as it can provide advanced warning of mutations that could increase likelihood of human infection. Incorporating these mutations into global health surveillance efforts can help relevant authorities to monitor potential threats and get ahead of them before they have a chance to spiral out of control. Professor Munir Iqbal is head of the Avian Influenza Group at The Pirbright Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.newton-gcrf.org/impact/data-insights-blog/preventing-a-future-pandemic-by-imitating-natu... |
| 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 | Project close meeting at TANUVAS, Chennai July 2018- Delivering talk on outcome of the project |
| 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 | The project team held their final workshop at TANUVAS, which concluded a four year Farmed Animal Disease and Health (FADH) grant joint funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Indian Government's Department of Biotechnology (DBT). "This grant has enabled us to collaborate with four organisations across India, and ensured that our research can be applied in the field to aid the campaign for PPR global eradication", said Professor Parida.The project covered many areas of research which are essential for understanding PPR and creating tools to help control and prevent the disease. The team have now filed a patent application for their newly developed PPR vaccine, which is the first to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals (DIVA) - a quality that enables livestock owners to protect their animals whilst continuing to trade. The team have also investigated how the PPR virus (PPRV) infects sheep and goats and how their immune systems respond. By inserting green fluorescent protein into virulent PPRV and administering the modified virus to goats, they demonstrated that PPRV primarily infects the tonsils, challenging the earlier belief that the virus first replicates in the respiratory tract epithelial cells. The collaborative project has also generated better diagnostic tests for use in the field and laboratory, and preliminary research has identified why some Indian breeds of goats and sheep are resistant to the disease, which could help scientists to create PPRV resistant breeds in the future. Project partners, scientists from the University and 40 field veterinarians have joined the meeting. An awareness training has been conducted on PPR disease and eradication for these field veterinarians. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2018/09/pirbright-scientists-run-vaccination-campaign-eradicate-pes... |
| Description | Protecting poultry from avian influenza |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu," is a disease caused by multiple strains of influenza virus. The viruses can infect a wide range of animals, including people and pigs, but the natural reservoir lies in populations of wild aquatic birds such as ducks and gulls, according to an announcement from The Pirbright Institute in the U.K., which is conducting research to better understand avian influenza viruses to help prevent the disease in poultry. Flu virus strains are categorized by the combination of the two proteins found on the outside of the virus: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) -- for example, H5N6 or H9N2. The H protein binds to cell receptors in order to initiate infection, while the N protein helps release new viruses from an infected cell, the institute explained. Strains are also classified by severity. Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses cause clinical signs such as mild breathing problems, decreased egg production and growth. Some birds, particularly ducks and geese, do not display any signs of LPAI infection and are still able to spread the disease, Pirbright said. When LPAI viruses circulate in high-density poultry areas, the viruses can mutate into highly pathogenic strains. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have severe and often fatal effects on some species of birds such as chickens, Pirbright noted, but some HPAI strains cause mild or no clinical signs of disease in wild birds and domestic waterfowl. These strains are notifiable, meaning government control measures must be put in place. Avian influenza can be carried vast distances by wild migratory birds and can infect domesticated poultry through direct contact or through contaminated droppings and bodily fluids, Pirbright said. Because of this, there is a year-round risk of avian influenza, which can increase depending on the disease status in a region and the migration season of wild aquatic birds. According to Pirbright, good biosecurity is essential in preventing poultry from being exposed to the disease and can be practiced on a commercial farm, with game birds or even with just a few backyard hens. Why is influenza so difficult to prevent? The institute explained that influenza viruses are constantly changing, and when they replicate, small errors called mutations are copied into their genome. Some of these will alter the virus's proteins, allowing the virus to escape detection by the immune system. All flu viruses also have the potential to undergo a process called reassortment, where two or more strains of influenza infect the same animal, allowing them to swap parts of their genome, Pirbright said. The resulting viruses can potentially have different characteristics than the original strains, such as the ability to replicate in different species, including people, the institute added. Avian influenza viruses such as H5N1 or H7N9 have infected people, predominantly in Southeast Asia, but in these cases, the virus has been transmitted directly from infected birds to people, with no onward spread. There is some evidence that avian influenza can be passed from person to person, and while there are no records of efficient or sustained human transmission, there is a constant risk that one of the new strains may spread easily among people, which could result in a new influenza virus pandemic, Pirbright said. Changes in the virus genetics from mutation or reassortment make it very difficult to anticipate how influenza viruses will spread through a population and whether current vaccines will be suitable for the strains that are circulating, Pirbright announced. The influenza research programs at Pirbright are progressing understanding of the virus and finding better ways to prevent its spread. Pirbright Institute group leaders Dr. Holly Shelton and professor Munir Iqbal are researching how the characteristics of influenza viruses can change the outcomes of disease. Studying flu at the molecular level allows them to find out how the virus evolves to overcome avian immunity and how changes in their genome can alter disease severity and their ability to affect different species, the announcement said. Shelton's and Iqbal's teams are working on identifying genetic markers for specific disease traits that can be used in surveillance systems to provide forewarning of strains that could cause pandemics. For example, Shelton's Influenza Viruses group is looking at which characteristics allow the viruses to become resistant to antiviral drugs that are currently used to treat human infections of influenza, allowing surveillance to provide an early warning of viruses that could cross into humans and be difficult to control, Pirbright said. The team is also investigating how long it takes for avian influenza viruses to adapt to new mammalian species. According to the institute, establishing which strains can rapidly adapt and identifying the genetic changes made to enable infection of mammalian cells will help with surveillance efforts and potentially lead to the development of techniques that will help prevent these mutations occurring. Vaccination and rapid diagnosis are very important for influenza prevention and control, but it is still not currently possible to protect against all influenza strains, Pirbright said, noting that Iqbal's Avian Influenza group is exploring which sites on the virus trigger the chicken immune system to respond quickly and fight off infection. This will better inform scientists' ability to match vaccines to strains in the field and could help to develop vaccines that are more effective. Iqbal's group is also developing multivalent vaccines that protect chickens and ducks from several avian influenza subtypes at once as well as test kits for rapid diagnosis of different subtypes at the flock-side, the announcement said. Visit Pirbright's Influenza Viruses and the Avian Influenza group pages to find out more about their research. Source: The Pirbright Institute, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.feedstuffs.com/nutrition-health/protecting-poultry-avian-influenza |
| Description | Protecting poultry from avian influenza through passive immunisation. Presented at Foreign Experts Seminar "New strategies and new tools for the prevention and control of major poultry diseases. Shandong-Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, China, 20-22 September 2019. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion was the best practices to improve control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) for prevention of avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Provided information to Podcast This week in Virology about African swine fever virus spread in wild boar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | E-mail correspondence providing advice to presenters of TWIV This week in Virology Podcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-532/ |
| Description | Provision of educational material on Rift Valley fever virus for Royal Society Summer Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We prepared information material for an exhibition on Rift Valley fever virus at the Royal Society Summer Festival. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Q&A statement on coronaviruses provided to Science Media Centre - HJM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A Q&A statement on coronaviruses was provided to the science media centre, who distributed it to media outlets. Excerpt have been used in 1420 articles incuding the Daily Mail and syndicate articles. The Q&A was also used in a Pirbright Institute media statment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Rebecca Daines: Cheltenham Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Described the research undertaken at the Pirbright Institute that lead to improve control systems against infectious viral diseases of animals and from animals to humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody protects chickens from avian influenza. Presented at Systems Immunology Workshop: Adaptive immune repertoires and beyond. 16th-17th January 2020. University of Surrey, UK |
| 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 | A talk entitled "Recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody protects chickens from avian influenza" was presented at the workshop exploring new technical advances for analysis and production of antibodies for prophylaxes and treatment of animal and humans diseases. Both academics and staff linked with animal and public health industry attended this workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| 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 | Represented The Pirbright Institute at the British Pig and Poultry Fair, 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Andrew Broadbent represented The Pirbright Institute at the British Pig and Poultry Fair, 2019 that was well attended by members of the General Public, poultry industry representatives and veterinary practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.pigandpoultry.org.uk/ |
| Description | Research Presentation Veterinary Research Club UK "An African Swine Fever vaccine candidate based on multiple targeted gene deletions and mutagenesis" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk on African swine fever virus vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Researchers at Pirbright investigate the emergence of new bird flu viruses with the potential to infect people |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following the news brief of our research outcomes for the general public and media was published on The Pirbright Institute and widely distributed through social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin. Pirbright scientists have discovered that infection with two strains of avian flu can lead to the emergence of a new virus strain with the potential to jump from birds to humans. Human cases of avian influenza are extremely rare but can occur if a person comes into very close contact with an infected or dead bird. The study shows that avian influenza virus strains H9N2 and H7N9 can share genetic information to create an H9N9 strain with the potential to cause more severe disease in poultry and pose a threat to human health. Avian influenza, also known as 'bird flu', is a type of influenza that spreads among birds. The UK faces a seasonal increase in the risk of avian influenza outbreaks which are associated with the migration patterns of wild birds. Avian influenza is found across the globe, and in countries where multiple strains circulate it is important to monitor the emergence of new strains. Low virulence H9N2 and H7N9 circulate in poultry in Asia but do not cause severe disease. However, they are known to swap genetic information which can result in the emergence of an H9N9 strain, which can cause severe disease. In collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), researchers at Pirbright discovered that the H9N9 strain was able to multiply significantly better in poultry cells, indicating the potential to cause more severe disease. They also discovered that it had a higher replication rate in human cells and could bind to these cells better than H9N2. The H9N9 strain can infect and transmit between ferrets highlighting the potential to cause disease in humans. The study, published in the Journal of Virology, shows that strains already circulating in poultry populations can exchange genetic material, leading to the creation of new strains. This increases the risk of the virus jumping from avian hosts to humans and other mammals. The study concludes that H7N9 and H9N2 viruses circulating in the same regions pose a pandemic threat, which demonstrates the need for constant monitoring for the emergence of new virus strains. Professor Munir Iqbal, Head of the Avian Influenza Group at Pirbright said: "This is the first study to show that infection with circulating H9N2 and H7N9 influenza viruses could create new virus strains such as H9N9 that cause more disease in poultry and pose a greater risk to human health. If a host is infected with two different strains, there is always a chance that they will swap genetic material to create a new strain. When this happens, it could lead to many outcomes, for example, the virus becoming more or less able to cause disease in a host, or a virus acquiring the ability to jump between hosts. This leads to viruses that primarily cause disease in animals having the ability to infect humans, which is what we have observed in this study. More research is needed to determine which avian flu viruses could combine and pose a threat to poultry and human health." This study was supported by grants funded by the UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council under Newton Fund UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative and Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) with grants from FCDO and Dstl. The work was also funded by the GCRF One Health Poultry Hub and Defra (UK, including the Devolved Administrations of Scotland and Wales). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2022/01/researchers-pirbright-investigate-emergence-new-bird-flu-vi... |
| Description | Reverse genetics seminar (University of Surrey) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A seminar was given based upon the reverse genetics system of infectious bronchitis virus. The audience was a group of 10 -15 MSc students from University of Surrey. The students were engaged, asked questions about the research and careers in science. We were asked to repeat the seminar for the next year's intake of students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Reverse genetics seminar to MSc students |
| 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 | A seminar was presented describing reverse genetics of viruses, including infectious bronchitis virus and the application of reverse genetics in research. The students were interested and engaged, participating in activities and asking questions. We were invited to present the seminar in subsequent years for new student intakes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2018,2019 |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Fair - HJM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | HJM attended the Pirbright stand at the Royal Society Summer Fair and presented the exhibit to visiting school children and members of the general public. The exhibit called "Disease detectives" helped visitors understand processes in identifying viruses causing disease, symptoms of infection, routes and rates of infection as well as control measures currently available and in development. The event allowed discussion of work on going in HJMs projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2022 - Trevor Sweeney |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Pirbright's exhibit titled 'Disease Detectives' explained what scientists and detectives have in common and why scientists are key in preventing pandemics. The stand also featured Bug Busters, a way to demonstrate how genetic engineering can be used to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases including Dengue and Zika. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/press-releases/2022/07/pirbright-institute-makes-buzz-royal-society-summ |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition London 6-10 July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Stand Disease Detectives at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition London 6-10 July 2022. Explained how an outbreak of infection could be detected and control it |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2018,2022 |
| Description | SATRO Mentoring Scheme 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 | Fortnightly mentoring activity for student's soft skill and career development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | STEAMfest |
| 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 | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | STEAMfest - HJM |
| 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 | A large open day event at hosted at University of Surrey for students from a number of schools in the region to explore different scientific questions and areas of work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | STEAMfest - HS |
| 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 | Team members attended the event where a flu fighters stand was displayed demonstrating how scientists are working to rapidly detect and control avian influenza in the filed to protect food security, animal welfare and human health. Approximately 200 secondary school students engaged with the stall and this stimulated increased interest in science and research, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | STEM Outreach Event (Farnborough, 9th November) |
| 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 | See web link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | School Governor Science-Link |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | School governor with specific responsibility for health and safety and science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | School careers-Big Interview MdP |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating interest in science and research to secondary school students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Update to BBSRC executives |
| 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 | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit from the BBSRC to discuss science highlights |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Selectively Targeting Hemagglutinin Antigen to Chicken Antigen Presenting Cell Receptor Induces Faster and Stronger Immunity against Avian Influenza. Presented by Munir Iqbal ( IVVN Symposium) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | - Talk was presented describing the development of the next-generation Target Antigen Delivery Vaccine technology for poultry that selectively targets vaccine antigens to chicken antigen-presenting cell (APCs) and potentiates the immunogenicity of the vaccine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Seminar at Coventry University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited seminar "One Health vaccinology to combat emerging viral zoonoses", School of Life Sciences, Coventry University, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Seminar on African swine fever virus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on African swine fever virus vaccine development to Yebio Bioengineering and China Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre, Qingdao, PR China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on African swine fever virus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar on African swine fever virus host interactions and vaccine development. Yangzhou University Veterinary Faculty PR China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on African swine fever virus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar at Beijing Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences 12 Zhongguanchan South Stree, Haifing District Beijing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on African swine fever virus virus host interaction and vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar on African swine fever virus evasion of host defences and vaccine development Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, UCL London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on African swine fever virus virus host interaction and vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences PR China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on prospects for African swine fever virus vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar at Harbin Institute for Veterinary Research, PR China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar on virus host interactions and prospects for African swine fever virus vaccine development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar on African swine fever virus host interactions and vaccine development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Sir John Kingman (UKRI) visit |
| 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 | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit to highlight Pirbright science to UKRI |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Southampton Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lectures on Genomic Immunology and Food Security as part of an undergraduate course to molecular biologists |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| Description | Speed networking |
| 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 | Increasing interest of women in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Steam fest |
| 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 | Increased interest in research and science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Summer School at Greifswald |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk about the use of the pig as a model to study influenza and other respiratory diseases. Discussion about the utility of the model and what lessons should be learned from the Covid pandemice |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Surrey County Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Surrey County Show is an agricultural show in Guildford that is visited by the general public. The Pirbright Institute had a stand with various activities for visitors to take part in and explain our science to a wide audience. Giulia spent a day working on the stand and spoke with many children and adults about her work at Pirbright to change public attitudes and stimulate increased interest in research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Surrey County Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Represented The Pirbright Institute research activities at the Surrey County Show, 28th May 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Surrey Open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Described the research activity of the Pirbright Institute for students from school, graduate and postgraduate students, and provided information on research facilities in the institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.surrey.ac.uk/opendays/vet |
| Description | Surrey Veterinary School Open Day- AA, WM |
| 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 | Stimulating interest in different science career paths |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Surrey vet school open day - MJB |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event was an open day for prospective students for the University of Surrey vet school. The course includes a research placement, which can be conducted at Pirbright. Therefore there was a stand from Pirbright to describe the research we perform generally as well as a discussion of our specific research. The audience were generally interested and the information helped inform them when selecting a university course. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Sushant Bhat:Pirbright Dragon Fair |
| 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 | Described the research undertaken at the Pirbright Institute that lead to improve control systems against infectious viral diseases of animals and from animals to humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Sustainable poultry (meat and eggs) production in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities. |
| 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 | Discussion on sustainable poultry (meat and eggs) production in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities. Presented at UKRI-GCRF "Food Security, Agriculture, and Nutrition" workshop, Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan. 9th- 10th March 2020. organised by UKRI GCRF team. The outcomes include the establishment of collaborative links with key stakeholders including policymakers and disease control officials. Closer links were established with official responsible for animal health and food security officials including Minister for Science and Technology of Pakistan, High commissioner of UK High Commission in Pakitan. Discussion agenda and key outcomes were also communicated to the President of Pakistan, Chairman of Higher Education Commission Pakitan and representatives from FAO and UKRI GCRF team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/626768-upsign-network-ukri-to-organise-global-development-workshops |
| Description | TV Interview Deutsche Welt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview and filming at Pirbright for a programme on African swine fever virus broadcast on Deutsche Welt German TV Channel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Taiwan -UK Partnering Award: Surveillance of 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 | Attended the International Flu Virus Symposium for Celebrating IPM 47th Anniversary" in Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Tri-Service General Hospital address: No. 325, Sec. 2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Invited speaker for medical staff and research scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.cdc.gov.tw/rwd/english |
| Description | Talk Presented at 2nd International Congress of Veterinary Microbiology, 16th -19th October 2018. Sherwood Breezes Resort-Lara, Antalya, Turkey. |
| 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 | Conference discussed improving prevention and control of viral diseases of poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk as part of Vaccinology in Africa course |
| 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 | Talk on ASFV at 'Vaccinology in Africa' course organised by the Jenner Institute. 11th October 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2021,2022 |
| Description | Talk as part of the University of Veterinary Medicine (Vienna) doctoral school "Infectious Diseases of Pig and Poultry" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Talked about the Pirbright Institute's work on African swine fever virus to researches in Veterinary Medicine (Virology and Immunology) in Vienna. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at Human & Veterinary Vaccinology Course |
| 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 | Presented work on African swine fever vaccine design to the Human and Veterinary Vaccinology course organised by the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at IVVN Swine Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed research progress with other scientists, some discussion about a follow-up meeting on discovering T-cell antigens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Talk at Large animal research network (LARN) |
| 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 | Gave a talk on the tools we have developed to target different parts of the respiratory tract and how to analyse local immune responses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Talk at Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Services University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Participated in an online webinar organised by the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Services University in Chennai India as part of their Transboundary Animal Diseases - Emerging Threats to India seminar series. I talked to around 60 participants about African swine fever and African swine fever vaccine research. There were questions on vaccine development and also control of African swine fever in India. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Talk at VIV Virtual Summit -Asia Edition |
| 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 | Talk to just over 100 attendees to the "Genetic Futures - Productivity, Animal Health and Clean Growth" session, part of the VIV Virtual Summit -Asia Edition. The session was organised by UK Technology for Agriculture and Genetics to showcase UK scientific expertise in the livestock sector to a Asian audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2021 |
| URL | https://www.vivasia.nl/viv-virtual-summit/ |
| Description | Talk at World Vaccine Congress Europe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Described research progress on ASF vaccines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Talk at meetings on anti-microbials at ITRA, Caldes de Montbui. Spain, Barcelona |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Debate on how to prevent the use of antimicrobials by most effective immunization strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talk by Nick on the sequencing of Zimbabwe FMDV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Nick Knowles gave a talk at the 2018 Open Session of EuFMD (European commission for the control of foot-and-mouth disease ) on "Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of Over 140 Foot-and-mouth Disease Viruses Isolated From Free-living African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Zimbabwe" on behalf of Jemma Wadsworth, Bruce Bolt, Luca Ferretti, Euan C. Anderson, Ashley Gray, Paolo Ribeca, and himself. The sequencing was funded by the Transboundary Pathogens portal project awarded to Pirbright. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| 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 | Talk on African swine fever virus family at the fundamental virology course at the Institut Pasteur |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk on Asfarvaridae at Virologie Fondamentale MSc course at Institute Pasteur |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented African swine fever virus to the Virologie Fondamentale MSc course at Institute Pasteur. This was the first time African swine fever had been included in the curriculum for this course. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Targeted Antigen Delivery Vaccines: Next Generation Vaccines for Poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A talk entitled "Targeted Antigen Delivery Vaccines: Next Generation Vaccines for Poultry" presented to the Executive Chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The discussion aim was the advances approaches that can increases the strength and breath of vaccine immunity in animals and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Teentech |
| 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 annual Teentech student science event in Guildford aims to encourage teenagers to consider science subjects and science careers. Our stand had considerable interest from the schoolchildren who were very enthusiastic. The event stimulated an increased interest in science and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2019 |
| Description | Television Interview Ulaanbaatar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I gave a television interview to Mongolian national television while attending a workshop in Ulaanbaatar. The interview was focused on the collaboration between the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar and The Pirbright Institute, particularly the work we are undertaking on sheeppox and goatpox. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Television interview Ulaanbaatar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by UB television while on a collaborative visit to the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Mongolia. I spoke about the collaboration between The Pirbright Institute and the SCVL, and how this benefits the Mongolian agricultural sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | The Hurst careers event - HJM |
| 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 Hurst school held a careers event for GCSE students to attend throughout the day. The Pirbright stand contained a variety of engagement activities to demonstrate the research we perform and to stimulate discussion. The students seemed interested in the activities and those more interested in a science career asked a variety of questions about the research and entry into scientific research as a career. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The Pirbright Village Duck Fair held on 16 June 2018 |
| 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 | Local Village Fair, interaction with local residence to expanse research aims and activities of The Pirbright Institute and benefits to UK and around the globe to prevent and control infectious diseases of animals and humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The co-Circulation of Low and High-path-AIV in the same country with sub-optimal bio-security: Virus evolution and impact on vaccine efficacy. Presented at the 11th Scientific conference of Egyptian Veterinary Poultry Association, Conference "Towards a National strategy to control poultry industry problems in Egypt". 20-23 April 2019. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The global Situation and pathobiology of Avian Influenza in different Avian Species. Presented at the 11th Scientific conference of Egyptian Veterinary Poultry Association, Conference "Towards a National strategy to control poultry industry problems in Egypt". 20-23 April 2019.. |
| 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 | The talk and the discussion on the improvement of disease control systems (vaccines and diagnostics) to prevent avian influenza viruses infection in poultry and zoonotic infections in humans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) Global Research and Expertise Network (GREN) meeting. Presented work on the future eradication of PPRV, 13-15.11.2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) Global Research and Expertise Network (GREN) meeting. Presented work on the future eradication of PPRV, 13-15.11.2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://rr-asia.oie.int/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/200622_ppr-gren-2-nairobi-november-2019-final-com... |
| Description | The rise and fall of antigenic mutations: A path to the persistence of avian influenza viruses. The Pirbright Institute Research Update Seminar Series. 27th April 2021. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A seminar at the Pirbright Institute Research Update Seminar Series. 27th April 2021. The research outcomes were discussed detailing how the avian influenza viruses (H9 subtype) evolve under vaccine immune pressure to sustain their fitness in poultry. Described the evolutionary genetic markers that significantly change the virus antigenicity which ultimately reduce the effectiveness of poultry vaccines against avian influenza viruses affecting poultry and huamns. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Tillingborne Science Day |
| 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 | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Tillingbourne bug hunt. New Rd, Chilworth, Guildford GU4 8NB |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in science and research. Good interest and engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Time for rethink on farming poultry as experts warn bird flu has slipped 'through our fingers (Sky News) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Discussion with Sky New UK corresponded Tom Clarke (Science and technology editor @aTomClarke) on continued avian influenza viruses are becoming endemic in bird populations in Europe and North America with some areas seeing a 600% increase in infection over the past few months in September -November 2022. In the UK, every day now, two or three new premises have been testing positive for bird flu. If they do, their flocks are culled and over 50 million birds culled in Europe this year and a similar number in North America. There is a need for an improved disease control strategies against these viruses. just culling of infected and at risk will not reduce viruses prevalence and spread, because virus in circulating in wild birds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://news.sky.com/story/time-for-rethink-on-farming-poultry-as-experts-warn-bird-flu-has-slipped-... |
| Description | Tour of Pirbright Research facilities for CLA group |
| 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 | The CLA is the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales. The CLA came for a tour of the Jenner building facilities at The Pirbright Institute. I led a tour of our building for the group and described the work undertaken by the avian research programme here. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | U3A Science Forum presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk titled 'One Health' vaccines to combat emerging zoonotic viral diseases |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | U3A talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on influenza virus research at The Pirbright Institute for the local University of the Third Age group, approx. 50 people aged 65 years + all with an interest in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://cu3asandt.wordpress.com/2018/09/23/meeting-2nd-october/ |
| Description | UK-China Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative project kick-off workshop" at China Agriculture University, Beijing, 26th-28th September 2018. |
| 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 | Emerging new approaches were discussed for prevention and control of infectious diseases affecting swines and poultry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | UK-India bioinformatics workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | On February 9 2018 Pirbright organised a "UK-India bioinformatics workshop" in order to foster ties between Indian and UK bioinformaticians working in the field of livestock and crop research. Paolo Ribeca gave a talk on "Bioinformatics and sequencing at Pirbright". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Understanding Antigenic Diversity, Zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry. Presented at "UK-China Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative project kick-off workshop" at China Agriculture University, Beijing, 26th-28th September 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting focus was to share research plans funded under "UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative". Research projects investigate pathogens, zoonotic pathogens or "commensals" associated with food safety issues affecting poultry and swine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/joint-swine-poultry-initiative/ |
| 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 | Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry. Presented at UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative: Interim Project Workshop 13th-15th January 2020 Hilton Hotel, Bracknell, UK |
| 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 | Outcomes of the research project entitled "Understanding antigenic diversity, zoonotic potential and immunological prevention of avian influenza viruses affecting poultry" were presented to colleagues working on prevention and control of infectious diseases affecting animals and humans. the work led to incite further research collaborations with different groups from UK, China, Thailand and Philippine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding avian influenza virus evolution and development of next generation vaccines. Presented at 459th Scientific Meeting of The Veterinary Research Club at The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court London Friday 14th February 2020. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk presented entitled"Understanding avian influenza virus evolution and development of next generation vaccines". The discussion with senior staff from DEFRA and UKRI- BBSRC, researchers and veterinary professional like with control and prevention of animal diseases in United kingdom |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding avian influenza virus evolution, antigenic diversity and vaccine failure. Presented at the 2019 Symposium on techniques for healthy breading and disease prevention & control of livestock and poultry, Golden Harbor Hotel, Beijing, 21-23 August 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk and discussion on the control of infectious animal diseases including avian influenza. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine Open Day |
| 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 | Presentation of work conducted at The Pirbright Institute |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine Open Day- Dec 2019 |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | engaged with parents and 6th form students about a career as a Veterinarian and specifically a career in Veterinary Research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine Open Day- Jul 2019 |
| 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 | engaged with parents and 6th form students about a career as a Veterinarian and specifically a career in Veterinary Research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | University of Surrey Vet School Careers Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Careers day for veterinary students to inform about the work at The Pirbright Institute to interest future veterinarians in a research career |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | University of Surrey's Widening Participation and Outreach Summer Schools for Biosciences and Veterinary Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in veterinary science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2019 |
| Description | VN International Webinar on Genomics & Gene Technology at Kerala University 24 March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | VN International Webinar on Genomics & Gene Technology at Kerala University 24 March 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Vet School Open Day |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine Open Day - introduced The Pirbright Institute and the research we conduct to prospective students and parents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Vet Times |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Information on research activity of Avian Immunology group at the Pirbright Institute |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Veterinary Research Club |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the data generated and its importance in understanding immune responses to vaccination and natural infections. About 50 veterinarians and researchers working in veterinary sciences attended the one-day meeting, which initiated discussions about the possibility of generating new vaccines against BRSV. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Video on African swine fever clinical signs for APHA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Video prepared to inform farmers and vets about African swine fever virus clinical signs |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4kSR-wMO4M&feature=youtu.be |
| Description | Virtual video tour of the animal facilities in Pirbright |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Contributed to public understanding of animal research by being interviewed on the virtual video tour of the animal facilities in Pirbright - one of only four such initiatives in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit to Cairo Poultry Company (CPC) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and talk on prevention and control of poultry diseases (avian influenza and Newcastle Disease) and molecular factors affecting vaccine efficacy. The discussion and talk to present data, describing factors the directly influence protective efficacy of in use vaccines, and how they evaluate/ test vaccine failure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to Dakahlia Poultry Egypt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and talk presented at Dakahlia Poultry Egypt head office to workers involved in poultry production. The talk amis were to provide update on the impact of evolutionary genetic changes in the avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses on the efficacy of vaccines and diagnostics. The molecular changes in virus genetic makeup allow virus to escape from vaccine induced immunity results vaccine and diagnostics failure. Consequently the avian influenza viruses continue to circulates in vaccinated flocks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | WACCBIP Ghana (TT) |
| 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 | West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana. Workshops on cell biology of pathogens and career development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Why vaccines matter in the fight against zoonotic diseases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A news story was published to increase the awareness of Zoonotic diseases and their impact on public health, food security, the economy and the environment. This was publicised at The Pirbright Institute webpage and One Health Poultry Health webpage and distributed wildly on social media including Facebook, Twitter, In Share. On World Zoonoses Day, Pirbright's Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Joshua Sealy consider 600 years of developing technology to fight infectious diseases: The history of human and animal immunisation against infectious disease begins with the Chinese practice of variolation in the fifteenth century. Here, infectious material was taken from one patient and inoculated into a non-infected patient to initiate a mild but protective infection. Roughly 200 years later, Edward Jenner transformed the field of immunology by developing the world's first vaccine which involved immunising patients against smallpox using the closely related cowpox. Fast-forward another 200 years and the application of vaccines had transformed. On 6 July 1885, now celebrated as World Zoonoses Day, Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first vaccine against rabies - and within decades myriad other diseases had also been tackled effectively, including diphtheria, tetanus, anthrax, cholera, plague, typhoid, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio. Many of these pathogens had been infecting humans for years, and continue to do so where vaccines are not deployed. Now, in the 21st century, vaccine research is undergoing another seismic shift. In 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19), emerged in humans which is believed to have originated in animals (known as zoonoses). It has since developed into the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and in doing so it triggered an urgent need to develop vaccines to control a virus that represents a growing problem at the human-animal interface. Pathogen evolution: Broadly speaking, humans have a naïve immune system to the many pathogens that exclusively circulate within animal reservoirs, including livestock. Most pathogens have evolved to infect specific animal species, which means that a significant barrier exists that prevents animal pathogens from causing disease in humans. However, a portion of these pathogens, including influenza viruses and coronaviruses, have the capacity to evolve such that they can overcome these barriers and be successful, especially as there is no prior immunity in the human population. This extraordinary ability to evolve also means that these pathogens have the potential to overcome vaccines. The application of vaccines and vaccine technology must progress to meet the challenge of zoonotic viruses. Vaccine variety: An impressive diversity of vaccine technologies is currently employed or in development to combat pathogens circulating in humans and animals. A vaccine needs to be effective at eliminating or reducing disease, but the diversity of pathogens means vaccines sometimes need to be equally diverse and must cater to specific challenges. Traditional inactivated pathogen vaccines are generated by 'killing' a pathogen so that it can be safely administered for immunisation. Subunit vaccines are vaccines that comprise only a fragment of the target pathogen which can be administered to generate an immune response exclusively to that fragment. Both technologies elicit protective antibody responses and have been successful for an exceptionally long time against a variety of pathogens. However, an antibody response does not provide sufficient protection against all pathogens that continually change their shapes to evade vaccines. Live attenuated vaccines typically use infectious pathogens that are modified to prevent them from causing disease but can still trigger an immune response similar to their naturally occurring counterparts. These vaccines are useful because as well as an antibody response, they can induce a cellular immune response, which targets conserved parts of the pathogens that remain the same across different strains. This means live attenuated vaccines are more effective at protecting against mutations that could allow the pathogen to escape vaccine immunity and they provide better protection against multiple pathogen strains. New vaccine technology: Viral vector vaccines are vaccines that comprise the 'backbone' of a virus that doesn't cause disease in the host animal, which expresses a piece of the target pathogen that induces an immune response. Most licensed viral vector vaccines are in use in animals, with only a single vectored vaccine (against the Ebola virus) being licensed for humans prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Viral vector vaccines evoke a strong immune response that is specific to the pathogen, making it effective and long-lasting. DNA/RNA vaccines contain genetic material that codes for a piece of a pathogen, which the host cells process to elicit an immune response. Several mRNA vaccines are in use against SARS-CoV-2 and they are cost-effective, safe, and produced using chemicals synthetically and not from cell culture systems. As such, we now have the capacity to carefully select the target of our vaccines and the nature of the desired immune response. The importance of vaccines was brought into focus once again with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - and, going forward, the need for our growing arsenal of vaccines will only increase with the needs of humanity. Nutrition: As the human population increases so do its need for nutrition. A major source of human nutrition is animal-derived; thus, the population of farmed animals increases. Wild habitats are encroached upon to provide for the increasing population of farmed animals, and this facilitates interaction between farmed and wild animals. Consequently, we develop a tractable route for zoonotic diseases to enter the human population. Finally, the need for human nutrition is also met through the acquisition of wild animals. There is evidence to suggest that the West African Ebola virus epidemic was preceded by the capture of wild animals for human consumption. Likewise, SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have originated in wild animals. Zoonotic diseases clearly have far-reaching impacts. Humans and animals directly suffer pathogen-related sickness and death, and global economies incur significant losses. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a clear example of this - while avian influenza and several other emerging and re-emerging viruses carrying zoonotic infection potential circulating in farmed and wild birds are a constant reminder that the next pandemic could be around the corner. Written by Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Joshua Sealy, members of the Avian Influenza Virus group at Pirbright. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2021/07/why-vaccines-matter-fight-against-zoonotic-diseases |
| Description | Winston Churchill Careers Fair. Winston Churchill School, Hermitage Road, St Johns, Woking, Surrey, GU21 8TL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | AS attended and presented at this event to stimulate increased interest in science and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Woking High School Careers Fair -18th September 2018 |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Career fair attended by approx. 50 school aged children. Pirbright offered advice and information about the different career streams available at a research institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Woking School Careers |
| 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 | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Workshop with MSc students in Veterinary Microbiology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Both PI and postdoctoral scientists employed on projects participated in a 1 week workshop of MSc students from the University of Surrey including training activities within the high containment facilities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | YS Winston Churchill School Careers event |
| 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 | School careers event for a Secondary School - 1500 children ages 11 to 16 years |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Year 9 STEM networking event |
| 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 | A networking STEM event to year 9 schools |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | a talk at the Recently Independent Virology Investigators meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talks outlining my current research and future plans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| Description | careers |
| 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 | Stimulating increased interest in science and research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | organised workshops at Microbiology Society annual conferences 2014 - 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I co-organised virology division workshops on viral evolution and diversity and RNA viruses with colleagues from the virology division. The workshops were held at the annual Microbiology Society conferences in spring each year. Organisation involved selecting abstracts for oral or poster presentation, ordering the presentations and chairing the sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | talk at a UK-China symposium on recent advances in avian disease research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk entitled: Differential gene expression in chicken primary B cells infected ex vivo with attenuated and very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |