A5071671170- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Advanced Biosensing Techniques and Applications
- RNA modifications and cancer
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
University of Liverpool
2019-2025
University of Bristol
2021
Animal Health Trust
2021
Universities Research Association
2021
Lancaster University
2021
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only affects the respiratory tract but also causes neurological symptoms such as loss of smell and taste, headache, fatigue or severe cerebrovascular complications. Using transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme (hACE2), we investigated spatiotemporal distribution pathomorphological features in CNS following intranasal infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants, well after prior influenza A virus infection. Apart...
ABSTRACT Gram‐negative bacteria naturally produce and secrete nanosized outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). In the human gastrointestinal tract, OMVs produced by commensal can mediate interactions amongst host cells (including between epithelial immune cells) maintain microbial homeostasis. This OMV‐mediated pathway for host‐microbe could be exploited to deliver biologically active proteins body. To test this we engineered bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt), a prominent member of...
ABSTRACT COVID-19 is a spectrum of clinical symptoms in humans caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. The B.1.1.529 Omicron variant rapidly emerging and has been designated Variant Concern (VOC). highly transmissible partially or fully evades neutralising antibodies due to high number substitutions the spike glycoprotein. A major question relative severity disease compared previous currently circulating variants To address this, mouse model that recapitulates severe humans, K18-hACE2 mice,...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of disease 2019 (COVID-19). Sequencing viral genome as outbreak progresses important, particularly in identification emerging isolates with different pathogenic potential and to identify whether nucleotide changes will impair clinical diagnostic tools such real-time PCR assays. Although single polymorphisms point mutations occur during replication coronaviruses, one biggest drivers genetic change...
The lack of population health surveillance for companion animal populations leaves them vulnerable to the effects novel diseases without means early detection. We present evidence on effectiveness a system that enabled detection and rapid response canine gastroenteritis outbreak in United Kingdom. In January 2020, prolific vomiting among dogs was sporadically reported Electronic records from nationwide sentinel network veterinary practices confirmed significant increase with signs...
Wild animals are naturally infected with a range of viruses, some which may be zoonotic. During the human COVID pandemic there was also possibility rodents acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from people, so-called reverse zoonoses. To investigate this, we sampled rats (Rattus norvegicus) and mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) urban environments in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic. We metagenomically sequenced lung gut tissue faeces for PCR screened SARS-CoV-2, serologically surveyed anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies....
COVID-19 has stimulated the rapid development of new antibody and small molecule therapeutics to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we describe a third antiviral modality that combines drug-like advantages both. Bicycles are entropically constrained peptides stabilized by central chemical scaffold into bi-cyclic structure. Rapid screening diverse bacteriophage libraries against Spike yielded unique Bicycle binders across entire protein. Exploiting Bicycles' inherent combinability, converted...
The respiratory system is the main target of severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cause disease 19 (COVID-19) where distress considered leading death. Changes in pulmonary blood vessels, among which an endothelialitis/endotheliitis has been particularly emphasized, have suggested to play a central role development lung injury. Similar vascular changes are also observed animal models COVID-19. present study aimed determine whether latter specific for SARS-CoV-2 infection,...
The Omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2 pose a significant challenge to the development effective antibody-based treatments as immune evasion has compromised most available therapeutics. Therefore, in ‘arms race’ with virus, there is continuing need identify new biologics for prevention or treatment infections. Here, we report isolation nanobodies that bind BA.1 spike protein by screening nanobody phage display libraries previously generated from llamas immunized either Wuhan Beta proteins....
Abstract The threat of emergence further SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the future spillover potential other sarbecoviruses has prompted continued efforts to isolate broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use. In this study, we generated from immunised cattle, primarily because their ability produce with ultra-long heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) domains. Such have been shown potent cross-reactive neutralisation phenotypes in virus infections. Following...
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the respiratory tract and lungs; however, associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can also involve central nervous system. The pathomechanisms underlying neurological impairments in COVID-19 post condition remain incompletely understood, hence experimental studies under defined conditions, a suitable animal model, help to clarify effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection brain. K18-hACE2 mouse represents such...
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an often fatal, sporadic gammaherpesvirus-induced disease of ruminants with global relevance. Ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2), sheep as its reservoir host, a major cause MCF in susceptible species. Despite extensive research on the molecular aspects disease, pathogenesis not yet fully understood. The present study re-established Syrian golden hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus) amenable animal model and applied complementary situ approaches to confirm recent...
ABSTRACT Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to severe coronavirus disease 2019 and potentially contribute the emergence of variants with altered pathogenicity due persistent infection. This study investigated impact immunosuppression on acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in K18-hACE2 mice effectiveness antiviral treatments this context during first 7 days Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide infected a B lineage SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir nirmatrelvir,...
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic infection that emerged in the 2012. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include both gastrointestinal illnesses. The virus mainly present camel populations with occasional spill over into humans. severity of humans influenced by numerous factors, similar acute 2 (SARS-CoV-2), underlying health complications can play major role. Currently, MERS-CoV SARS-CoV-2 are coincident thus rapid way sequencing derive genotype...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a global healthcare problem, causing respiratory illness in young children and elderly individuals. Our knowledge of the host pathways that define susceptibility to infection disease severity are limited. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) metabolic responses low oxygen regulate inflammatory lower tract. We demonstrate role for HIFs suppress RSV entry RNA replication. show hypoxia HIF prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitors reduce expression receptor nucleolin...
Synopsis Objectives Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to severe COVID-19 and potentially contribute the emergence of variants with altered pathogenicity due persistent infection. This study investigated impact immunosuppression on SARS-CoV-2 infection in k18-hACE2 mice effectiveness antiviral treatments this context during first 7 days Methods Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide infected a B lineage SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir nirmatrelvir, alone combination,...
Abstract The ability of acquired immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 to protect after subsequent exposure emerging variants concern (VOC) such as B1.1.7 and B1.351 is currently high significance. Here, we use a hamster model COVID-19 show that prior infection with strain representative the original circulating lineage B induces protection from clinical signs upon challenge either or viruses, which recently emerged in UK South Africa, respectively. results indicate these emergent VOC may be...
Abstract Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only affects the respiratory tract but also causes neurological symptoms such as loss of smell and taste, headache, fatigue or severe cerebrovascular complications. Using transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme (hACE2) we investigated spatiotemporal distribution pathomorphological features in CNS following intranasal infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants, after prior influenza A virus infection....
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 has been proposed to encode ORF10 as the 3’ terminal gene in viral genome. However, potential role and even existence of a functional product subject debate. There are significant structural features genomic RNA that could, by themselves, explain retention nucleotide sequences without need for protein product. To explore this question further we made two recombinant viruses, firstly control virus (WT) based on genome sequence original Wuhan isolate with inclusion early...
Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) is a frequently fatal disease of many species including cattle, caused by ovine herpes virus-2. Sheep are the main reservoir host and transmit virus to other species, usually via aerosol. Clinical signs in affected animals can impact various body systems, infection be sub-clinical become latent. No specific treatments exist, empirical generally unrewarding. Occasionally some may survive, but there remains chronic arteriopathy. Currently,...
Abstract Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an often fatal sporadic gammaherpesvirus-induced disease of ruminants with global relevance. Ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2), sheep as reservoir host, a major cause MCF in susceptible species. Despite extensive research on the molecular aspects disease, its pathogenesis not yet fully understood. The present study re-established Syrian golden hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus ) amenable animal model and applied complementary situ approaches to...