Coronavirus group

In the Coronavirus Group we carry out research on the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a non-segmented RNA genome of positive polarity. In fact the coronaviruses have the longest genome, 28-30 kb, of all the viruses with an RNA genome.

IBV causes a highly contagious respiratory disease in chickens that can be fatal in young chickens as a result of bacterial infections. IBV also causes a drop in egg production following infection of egg-layers. IBV has economic consequences to the poultry industry throughout the world and has been reported to be the number one cause of infectious disease-related economic loss in the UK poultry industry.

Research in our group involves investigating the genes involved in virulence, for the rational design of new vaccines. We are presently modifying the IBV genome using a reverse genetics approach established by us in which a complete cDNA copy of the genome is inserted into the vaccinia virus genome. Modification of the IBV genome occurs by homologous recombination followed by rescue of recombinant IBV.

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