A to Z of the viruses we study
At the Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research we study a whole range of viruses affecting people, animals or both – from arenaviruses to Zikavirus
At the Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research we study a whole range of viruses affecting people, animals or both – from arenaviruses to Zikavirus
Arenaviruses
What are arenaviruses?
Arenaviruses are the largest family of haemorrhagic fever causing viruses. Endemic to West Africa and South America, arenaviral haemorrhagic fevers, such as Lassa fever (LF), are on the priority list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as diseases requiring urgent research and development measures. Human transmission of these RNA viruses occurs through direct skin contact with infected rodent faeces or urine, ingestion of contaminated food, or through respiratory exposure to rodent excreta, resulting in illnesses ranging from mild flu-like syndromes to severe and highly fatal haemorrhagic diseases. Recent increased frequency of outbreaks in Nigeria of Lassa virus (LASV) has emphasised that these viruses should no longer be treated as causes of sporadic epidemics. The immense public health and socio-economic impact of these outbreaks in Nigeria and other endemic countries is further exacerbated by the lack of vaccines and effective treatments. In addition, new strains of arenaviruses are being discovered, hence, virus sequence diversity is expanding and the likelihood of new outbreaks is increasing, for which disease severity and treatment options are unknown.
The current lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms of key host–virus interactions that potentiate disease pathogenesis or impede disease potential through evasion of host cellular immunity, hampers the development of novel therapeutic strategies for arenavirus infection.
Group Members: Dr Toshana Foster (Lab lead), Dr Robert Stott-Marshall (Postdoctoral Associate), Finley Old (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student)
What are arenaviruses?
Arenaviruses are the largest family of haemorrhagic fever causing viruses. Endemic to West Africa and South America, arenaviral haemorrhagic fevers, such as Lassa fever (LF), are on the priority list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as diseases requiring urgent research and development measures. Human transmission of these RNA viruses occurs through direct skin contact with infected rodent faeces or urine, ingestion of contaminated food, or through respiratory exposure to rodent excreta, resulting in illnesses ranging from mild flu-like syndromes to severe and highly fatal haemorrhagic diseases. Recent increased frequency of outbreaks in Nigeria of Lassa virus (LASV) has emphasised that these viruses should no longer be treated as causes of sporadic epidemics. The immense public health and socio-economic impact of these outbreaks in Nigeria and other endemic countries is further exacerbated by the lack of vaccines and effective treatments. In addition, new strains of arenaviruses are being discovered, hence, virus sequence diversity is expanding and the likelihood of new outbreaks is increasing, for which disease severity and treatment options are unknown.
The current lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms of key host–virus interactions that potentiate disease pathogenesis or impede disease potential through evasion of host cellular immunity, hampers the development of novel therapeutic strategies for arenavirus infection.
Group Members: Dr Toshana Foster (Lab lead), Dr Robert Stott-Marshall (Postdoctoral Associate), Finley Old (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student)
Bluetongue virus
What is bluetongue virus?
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a highly pathogenic virus that affects ruminants and has a mortality rate in sheep of up to 70%. It’s an arbovirus, meaning it’s transmitted by insects, in this case Culicoides biting midges.
Only a minority of cases develop the blue tongue from which the virus takes its name. It’s a result of damage to blood vessels and tissue swelling, which reduce the amount of oxygenated blood reaching the tongue, leading to cyanosis.
The virus was first described in Africa in the late 18th Century and has since been identified in Australia, the United States, Asia and Europe. In 2007/8, the virus reached the UK from Europe when infected midges were blown across the English Channel.
Although the virus was eradicated after that outbreak, the UK remains on high alert for it re-occurring. There are vaccines available, but a major challenge for virus diagnosis and control is that there are 27 distinct serotypes.
What is bluetongue virus?
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a highly pathogenic virus that affects ruminants and has a mortality rate in sheep of up to 70%. It’s an arbovirus, meaning it’s transmitted by insects, in this case Culicoides biting midges.
Only a minority of cases develop the blue tongue from which the virus takes its name. It’s a result of damage to blood vessels and tissue swelling, which reduce the amount of oxygenated blood reaching the tongue, leading to cyanosis.
The virus was first described in Africa in the late 18th Century and has since been identified in Australia, the United States, Asia and Europe. In 2007/8, the virus reached the UK from Europe when infected midges were blown across the English Channel.
Although the virus was eradicated after that outbreak, the UK remains on high alert for it re-occurring. There are vaccines available, but a major challenge for virus diagnosis and control is that there are 27 distinct serotypes.
Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that infect a wide range of species, from mice to humans and even beluga whales. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that vary in severity depending on the virus. In animals, the symptoms depend on the animal involved and the virus. We are all aware of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but SARS-CoV-2 is not the first coronavirus to emerge in recent times: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV are examples of “highly pathogenic human coronaviruses” that caused significant epidemics with high fatality rates. Additionally, there are a range of animal coronaviruses that cause significant problems in the farming industry, such as IBV in chickens and TGEV in pigs.
Group members: Dr Chris Coleman (lab lead), James Hallwood (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student), Anton Smith (Wellcome Trust DTP Postgraduate student),
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that infect a wide range of species, from mice to humans and even beluga whales. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that vary in severity depending on the virus. In animals, the symptoms depend on the animal involved and the virus. We are all aware of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but SARS-CoV-2 is not the first coronavirus to emerge in recent times: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV are examples of “highly pathogenic human coronaviruses” that caused significant epidemics with high fatality rates. Additionally, there are a range of animal coronaviruses that cause significant problems in the farming industry, such as IBV in chickens and TGEV in pigs.
Group members: Dr Chris Coleman (lab lead), James Hallwood (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student), Anton Smith (Wellcome Trust DTP Postgraduate student),
Equine hepacivirus
What is equine hepacivirus?
EqHV is a pathogen infecting equines, including horses and donkeys. Little is known about the transmission and pathogenesis of EqHV infection, but there are broad similarities between this species and is close relative, hepatitis C virus.
What are we doing?
Our team of veterinary virologists and molecular virologists are determining the specific tropism of EqHV for equine liver cells, as well as determining the protective antibody responses generated during acute and chronic EqHV infection.
What is equine hepacivirus?
EqHV is a pathogen infecting equines, including horses and donkeys. Little is known about the transmission and pathogenesis of EqHV infection, but there are broad similarities between this species and is close relative, hepatitis C virus.
What are we doing?
Our team of veterinary virologists and molecular virologists are determining the specific tropism of EqHV for equine liver cells, as well as determining the protective antibody responses generated during acute and chronic EqHV infection.
Hepatitis C virus
What is hepatitis C virus?
Hepatitis C virus causes more than 70 million infections worldwide. The virus infects the liver, resulting in liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver cancer. It is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated blood, particularly in unscreened blood products and through intravenous drug users sharing needles.
What are we doing?
The team led by Professor Irving manage a UK-wide patient cohort of more than 10000 patients infected with HCV (www.hcvresearchuk.org). This cohort has been crucial to analysing the effects of new drugs to treat the infection. We are also investigating the prevalence of drug-resistant variants, and developing new vaccines to prevent infection spreading.
Find out more
Cohort Profile: The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Research UK Clinical Database and Biobank https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/46/5/1391/3056757
What is hepatitis C virus?
Hepatitis C virus causes more than 70 million infections worldwide. The virus infects the liver, resulting in liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver cancer. It is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated blood, particularly in unscreened blood products and through intravenous drug users sharing needles.
What are we doing?
The team led by Professor Irving manage a UK-wide patient cohort of more than 10000 patients infected with HCV (www.hcvresearchuk.org). This cohort has been crucial to analysing the effects of new drugs to treat the infection. We are also investigating the prevalence of drug-resistant variants, and developing new vaccines to prevent infection spreading.
Find out more
Cohort Profile: The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Research UK Clinical Database and Biobank https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/46/5/1391/3056757