Immunology of Exotic Virus Infections Group

Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is highly contagious and causes an acute vesicular disease in cattle sheep and pigs, which results in debilitation, pain, loss of productivity, and trade restrictions. Better vaccines are required, ones that would induce rapid and long-lived protection.

Although protection against FMDV has been related to the quantity of anti-FMDV antibody in the blood of animals, we have shown that protection also depends on the magnitude of cell mediated immune (CMI) responses. We are seeking to improve vaccine performance by two related strategies, which are our contribution to the Global FMD Research Alliance (GFRA).

  • developing vaccines to specifically drive CMI responses, to be used in conjunction with current vaccines.
  • developing methods to produce stable FMDV capsids on an industrial scale (figure 1).

An FMDV particle comprises a protein coat (capsid) within which is the virus' genetic material (RNA). It is possible to make empty capsids which, because they lack the RNA, are extremely safe for vaccine purposes.

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