To respond rapidly to emerging threats, it is critical to understand the pathogen itself. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers are working in basic discovery science to explore the biology and transmission of emerging infections. Using our specialised expertise and infrastructure, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers are perfecting testing concepts, designs, and technologies, for example, new methods of virus culture, that can be quickly deployed against new threats.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s strengths in molecular and basic virology lie in specialist:

  • Expertise, e.g., virology, in the handling of airborne and blood-borne pathogens, quantitative proteomics and glycomics, risk assessment of new variants, established in vivo methods for transmission, and deep mutational screening
  • Infrastructure, e.g. specialist containment facilities for in vivo and in vitro studies

Experts working in this area

  • : Molecular virology; real-time characterisation of pathogenesis and transmission of viruses, including influenza, avian flu  (H5N1); risk assessment of zoonotic and pandemic threats; exchanging global knowledge of variants; recombinant virology. Examples (in Covid): Real-time characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 and variants; Exchanging global knowledge to enable in-country risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants
  • : Vascular pathology; mediators of vascular damage, vascular inflammation and thrombosis.
  • : Structural glycomics and glycobiology; characterisation of influenza glycan receptors. Example (in Covid): Site-specific characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor-binding.
  • : Virus genomics, including HIV and influenza, MERS, ebola. Example (in Covid): Deep mutagenesis scanning  of SARS-CoV-2. Influenza example: Identified the first human influenza disease severity determining allele in people hospitalised with pandemic influenza A H1N1.
  • : Identification of virus-host interactions that influence the outcome of dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus infection.
  • Bioinformatics, viral genomics.
  • : Molecular basis of infection-induced cardiac and lung damage and systemic response; myocarditis; using in vitro systems to assess viral damage to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Example (in Covid): Understanding cellular and molecular changes that occur within tissues and systemically (PBMCs).
  • : Pathogenic mechanisms of virus-related inflammation of the respiratory tract, using recombinant and natural variants of viruses.
  • : Respiratory and transplant medicine.
  • : Renal and transplant pathology; understanding vascular injury and thrombosis. 
  • Mechanisms of mucosal infection.
  • : Human challenge studies, infection transmission, including via ferret-ferret transmission models. Example (in Covid): ATACCC SARS-CoV-2 household transmission study; SARS-CoV-2 transmission in households, including in vaccinated people.
  • : Genomics and molecular epidemiology, including for S. pyogenes and scarlet fever; role of toxins in perpetuating outbreaks; emergent lineages. Example (in Covid): Biomarkers of infection and routes of SARS-CoV2 transmission.
  • : Interactions between emerging viruses and innate immune system related to emerging virus transmission, pandemic potential, and pathogenesis. Example (in Covid): Evolution of enhanced innate immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2.
  • : Phylogenetic analysis and methods.

 

Examples: Watch and listen

What is recombinant virology?

Explore a series of videos, co-created by Professor Wendy Barclay's lab, explaining what recombinant technology is, how it was used to make the polio vaccine better, and how researchers and regulations ensure its safety and responsible usage.

Explore the videos

Infrastructure and networks