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Out of the reservoir: identification and characterization of viral and host factors governing the pathobiology of zoonotic cowpox viruses (SPP1596 - Pox II)

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection


Project code: FLI-IVD-08-Ri-0466
Contract period: 01.06.2016 - 31.12.2019
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Keywords: Animal disease diagnostics, virology

CPXV, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus (OPV), has a very wide host range including rodents, cats, cattle, but also several zoo animals and humans. The pathogenic potential of different CPXV strains is rather variable. A recent CPXV isolate from pet rats and human infections in Southern Germany, Bay09, causes severe disease in Wistar rats including poxvirus lesions. On the other hand results the infection of rats with the CPXV strain BR only in mild clinical symptoms. Knowledge of virulence factors of CPXV field strains is crucial to allow a risk assessment for the viruses circulating in rodents and cats. Comparison of all available CPXV sequences show that there is no obvious virulence associated pattern of viral genome sequences nor an individual ORF which directly correlates with the pathotype of the isolates.. We plan to test single deletion viruses of four genes in BAC derived Bay09 mutants in 3D skin cultures and in infected Wistar rats. The impact of individual mutant viruses on cell cycle progression will be tested in non-permanent cultured cells. Also the immunohistological staining of skin lesions in organotypic rafts, in rats, and of infected chicken chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) will be used to address this question. Beside those negative mutants we also plan to test chimeras of Bay09 segments in BR to allow gain of virulence assays. The overall objective of this proposal is the identification of new OPV virulence markers in the original rodent host to allow a prospective screening of newly isolated CPXV.

- Chimeras were constructed and characterized - CPXV isolated from the reservoir host and in vitro and in vivo characterized - Novel CPXV-strains were sequenced (whole genomes) and phylogenetically analysed - Further trials with the bank vole model 12 publications and 3 thesis published

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Subjects

Framework programme

BMEL Frameworkprogramme 2008

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