In the Arbovirology Group we are using molecular biological approaches to study the proteins and genes of bluetongue virus (BTV). BTV exists as 24 serotypes. The practical significance of this is that infection/vaccination of an animal with one serotype does not confer immunity to any of the other serotypes. It is virus protein 2 (VP2), located at the surface of the virus, that is the major inducer of protective immune responses and, indeed, determines the serotype. Vaccines exist for just a few of the 24 serotypes. Knowing the serotype of BTV associated with a given outbreak is important in relation to the possibility that an appropriate BT vaccine might be available, and in working out from where the virus came from ? which also gives clues as to by what mechanism and route the virus had spread. We have sequenced the gene that encodes VP2 of all 24 serotypes, and have developed polymerase chain reaction tests to identify them. These tests are much more rapid (results within day) than conventional virus neutralisation tests (three weeks or so).
Read more