A5082923872- Viral Infections and Vectors
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Immune responses and vaccinations
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Biomarkers in Disease Mechanisms
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Disaster Response and Management
- Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- PARP inhibition in cancer therapy
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
2016-2025
University of Glasgow
2021-2024
Medical Research Council
2016
University of St Andrews
2012
Vaccines based on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are a cornerstone public health response to COVID-19. The emergence hypermutated, increasingly transmissible variants concern (VOCs) threaten this strategy. Omicron (B.1.1.529), fifth VOC be described, harbours multiple amino acid mutations in spike, half which lie within receptor-binding domain. Here we demonstrate substantial evasion neutralization by BA.1 and BA.2 vitro using sera from individuals vaccinated with ChAdOx1, BNT162b2...
The recent emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the underlying cause Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has led to a worldwide pandemic causing substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic devastation. In response, many laboratories have redirected attention SARS-CoV-2, meaning there is an urgent need for tools that can be used in unaccustomed working with coronaviruses. Here we report range SARS-CoV-2 research. First, describe facile single plasmid reverse...
Virus-virus interactions influence the epidemiology of respiratory infections. However, impact viruses causing upper infections on severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication and transmission is currently unknown. Human rhinoviruses cause common cold are most prevalent humans. Interactions between cocirculating have been shown to shape virus at individual host population level. Here, we examined kinetics SARS-CoV-2 in human epithelium presence or absence rhinovirus. We show...
Remdesivir (RDV), a broadly acting nucleoside analogue, is the only FDA approved small molecule antiviral for treatment of COVID-19 patients. To date, there are no reports identifying SARS-CoV-2 RDV resistance in patients, animal models or vitro. Here, we selected drug-resistant viral populations by serially passaging vitro presence RDV. Using high throughput sequencing, identified single mutation RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NSP12) at residue conserved among all coronaviruses two...
Abstract Vaccines based on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are a cornerstone public health response to COVID-19. The emergence hypermutated, increasingly transmissible variants concern (VOCs) threaten this strategy. Omicron, fifth VOC be described, harbours 30 amino acid mutations in including 15 receptor-binding domain. Here, we demonstrate substantial evasion neutralisation by Omicron vitro using sera from vaccinated individuals. Importantly, these data mirrored reduction real-world...
Abstract COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a respiratory disease associated with inflammation and endotheliitis. Mechanisms underling inflammatory processes are unclear, but angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor which binds spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 may be important. Here we investigated whether binding to ACE2 induces in endothelial cells determined role this process. Human were exposed protein, S1 subunit (rS1p) pro-inflammatory signaling mediators assessed. was modulated...
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a newly emerged orthobunyavirus that has caused widespread disease in cattle, sheep and goats Europe. Like other orthobunyaviruses, SBV characterized by tripartite negative-sense RNA genome encodes four structural two non-structural proteins. This study showed wide vitro host range, BHK-21 cells are convenient for both propagation assay plaque titration. The segments were cloned as cDNA three-plasmid rescue system was established to recover infectious virus....
As mosquito females require a blood meal to reproduce, they can act as vectors of numerous pathogens, such arboviruses ( e . g Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses), which constitute substantial worldwide public health burden. In addition meals, also take sugar meals get carbohydrates for their energy reserves. It is now recognised that diet key regulator disease outcome through interactions with the immune system. However, this has been mostly studied in humans model organisms. So far,...
Significance Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) is the prototype of Orthobunyavirus genus and Bunyaviridae family that contains important human animal pathogens. The cleavage mechanism orthobunyavirus glycoprotein precursor (GPC) host proteases involved have not been clarified. Here we found NSm Gc contain their own internal signal peptides, which mediate GPC by peptidase peptide (SPP). Furthermore, domain-I plays an postcleavage role in cell fusion. Our data clarified implication processing GPC. This...
A novel bunyavirus was recently found to cause severe febrile illness with high mortality in agricultural regions of China, Japan, and South Korea. This virus, named fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), represents a new group within the Phlebovirus genus Bunyaviridae. Little is known about viral entry requirements beyond showing dependence on dynamin endosomal acidification. haploid forward genetic screen performed identify host cell for SFTSV entry. The identified glucosylceramide...
The pandemic spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent Disease 2019 (COVID-19), represents an ongoing international health crisis. A key symptom SARS-CoV-2 infection is onset fever, with a hyperthermic temperature range 38 to 41°C. Fever evolutionarily conserved host response microbial that can influence outcome viral pathogenicity and regulation innate adaptive immune responses. However, it remains be determined what effect elevated has on...
Abstract Background Human and animal cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) are typically only reported during large outbreaks. The occurrence RVF that go undetected by national surveillance systems in the period between these outbreaks is considered likely. last Tanzania occurred a outbreak 2007–2008. Methods Samples collected 2017 2019 from livestock suffering abortion across northern were retrospectively tested for evidence virus infection using serology reverse transcription quantitative...
Background Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus is both the prototype and study model of Bunyaviridae family. The viral NSs protein seems to contribute different outcomes infection in mammalian mosquito cell lines. However, only limited information available on growth virus cultured cells other than Aedes albopictus C6/36 line. Methodology Principal Findings To determine potential functions cells, replication wild-type a recombinant deletion mutant was compared Ae. C6/36, C7-10 U4.4 aegypti Ae by...
Bunyavirales is a very large order including viruses infecting variety of taxonomic groups such as arthropods, vertebrates, plants, and protozoa. Some bunyaviruses are transmitted between vertebrate hosts by blood-sucking arthropods cause major diseases in humans animals. It not understood why only some have evolved the capacity to be arthropod vectors. Here we show that vector-borne express non-structural protein, NSm, whose function has so far remained largely elusive. Using experimental...
Abstract Identifying drivers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure and quantifying population immunity is crucial to prepare for future epidemics. We performed a serial cross-sectional serosurvey throughout the first pandemic wave among patients from largest health board in Scotland. Screening 7480 patient serum samples showed weekly seroprevalence ranging 0.10% 8.23% primary 0.21% 17.44% secondary care, respectively. Neutralization assays that highly...
Abstract Remdesivir (RDV) is used widely for COVID-19 patients despite varying results in recent clinical trials. Here, we show how serially passaging SARS-CoV-2 vitro the presence of RDV selected drug-resistant viral populations. We determined that E802D mutation RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was sufficient to confer decreased sensitivity without affecting fitness. Analysis more than 200,000 sequences globally circulating variants no evidence widespread transmission RDV-resistant mutants....
Orthobunyaviruses such as Cache Valley virus (CVV) and Kairi (KRIV) are important animal pathogens. Periodic outbreaks of CVV have resulted in the significant loss lambs on North American farms, whilst KRIV has mainly been detected South Central America with little overlap geographical range. Vaccines or treatments for these viruses unavailable. One approach to develop novel vaccine candidates is based use reverse genetics produce attenuated that elicit immune responses but cannot revert...
Rodent-borne orthohantaviruses are asymptomatic in their natural reservoir, but they can cause severe diseases humans. Although an exacerbated immune response relates to hantaviral pathologies, have antagonize the antiviral interferon (IFN) successfully propagate infected cells. We studied interactions of structural and nonstructural (NSs) proteins pathogenic Puumala (PUUV), low-pathogenic Tula (TULV), non-pathogenic Prospect Hill (PHV) viruses, with human type I III IFN (IFN-I IFN-III)...
Our growing ability to tailor healthcare the needs of individuals has potential transform clinical treatment. However, measurement multiple biomarkers inform decisions requires rapid, effective, and affordable diagnostics. Chronic diseases rapidly evolving pathogens in a larger population have also escalated need for improved diagnostic capabilities. Current chemical diagnostics are often performed centralized facilities still dependent on steps, molecular labeling, detailed analysis,...
Abstract The pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent COVID-19, represents a significant and ongoing international health crisis. A key symptom SARS-CoV-2 infection is onset fever, with hyperthermic temperature range 38 to 41°C. Fever an evolutionarily conserved host response microbial inflammation that can influence outcome viral pathogenicity regulation innate adaptive immune responses. However, it remains be determined what effect elevated has on tropism replication. Utilizing...
ABSTRACT Bunyavirales is a very large order including viruses infecting variety of taxonomic groups such as arthropods, vertebrates, plants, and protozoan. Some bunyaviruses are transmitted between vertebrate hosts by blood-sucking arthropods cause major diseases in humans animals. It not understood why only some have evolved the capacity to be arthropod vectors. Here we show that vector-borne express non-structural protein, NSm, whose function has so far remained largely elusive. Using...
Abstract Factors governing the coagulopathy and pneumonitis associated with severe viral infections remain unresolved. We previously found that expression of protein S (PROS1) is increased in lung epithelium patients mild COVID-19 as compared to COVID-19. hypothesised PROS1 may exert a local effect protects upper airway against inflammation by modulating epithelial myeloid cell responses. To test this, vitro air-interface cultures, seeded from primary healthy human cells, were infected...
Abstract Undetected Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks are expected in endemic countries but little is known about their size or frequency. We describe a previously unreported RVF outbreak involving dairy cattle that appeared to be limited the edge of town Moshi, Tanzania and occurred from May through August, 2018. The was detected retrospectively using samples collected as part cohort study investigating causes livestock abortion across northern Tanzania. A total 14 RVF-associated abortions...