Molecular Characterisation and Diagnostics (MCD) Group

The Molecular Characterisation and Diagnostics Group focuses on the detection and characterisation of viruses causing Vesicular (blister) diseases of livestock:

  • foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)
  • swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV),
  • vesicular exanthema of swine virus (VESV) and
  • vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).

The main objectives of our research are to:

  1. develop and evaluate molecular diagnostic methods, based on the genetic material of the viruses.
  2. use gene sequencing data to trace the movement of FMDV on a worldwide scale and
  3. to understand at a molecular level those parts of FMDV that induce immune responses, including protective immunity.

Collectively our work underpins the activities of the FAO/OIE/CRL Reference Laboratories for FMD and SVD .

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