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van der Hoek L, Verschoor E, Beer M, Höper D, Wernike K, Van Ranst M, Matthijnssens J, Maes P, Sastre P, Rueda P, Drexler JF, Barr J, Edwards T, Millner P, Vermeij P, de Groof A, Thiel V, Dijkman R, Suter-Riniker F, Leib S, Koller R, Ramette A, Engler O, Beuret C. Host switching pathogens, infectious outbreaks and zoonosis: A Marie Skłodowska-Curie innovative training network (HONOURs). Virus Res 2019; 257:120-124. [PMID: 30316331 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The increase of the human population is accompanied by growing numbers of livestock to feed this population, as well as by an increase of human invasion into natural habitats of wild animals. As a result, both animals and humans are becoming progressively vulnerable to infections with known (zoonotic) pathogens, but are also increasingly exposed to novel viruses. Global trade as well as climate changes can contribute to pathogen transmission, e.g. through import of infected vectors or expansion of habitats for arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and midges. Infectious disease outbreaks, especially those by novel viruses, are generally unexpected, and therefore we should be prepared with tools and abilities for immediate action, including the identification of the causative agent, the evaluation of its pathogenic potential for animals and humans, and the fast development of diagnostic assays to allow contact tracing and quarantine measures. HONOURs is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN), teaching 15 talented young researchers to become "preparedness-experts". HONOURs, initiated in April 2017, involves 11 laboratories from 6 different European countries, all at the forefront of novel virus investigations and characterizations. The network includes surveillance experts in both the veterinary and the human health sector, who have developed and utilize highly sensitive virus discovery techniques, e.g. next generation sequencing based genomics and universal primers based PCR, to allow identification and characterization of novel viruses. Production of pure viral proteins, providing high-resolution structures, aids in the design of novel, fast and easy-to-use diagnostics. Organotypic in vitro cell cultures systems (e.g. pseudostratified human airway epithelia) provide tools for virus replication, if needed via a reverse genetics platform, and the production of virus stocks permits inoculation in animal models to examine disease, evaluate candidate vaccines, and fulfilment of the Koch's postulates. Scientists of the various institutes will provide training in the HONOURs network through specialized courses and workshops, combined with challenging research projects. The final aim of the network is to deliver 15 expert scientists, ready to act in case of the emergence of an epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia van der Hoek
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Ernst Verschoor
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288GJ Rijswijk, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marc Van Ranst
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Flemish Brabant 3000, Belgium
| | - Jelle Matthijnssens
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Flemish Brabant 3000, Belgium
| | - Piet Maes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Flemish Brabant 3000, Belgium
| | - Patricia Sastre
- Inmunología y Genética Aplicada S.A (INGENASA). Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Rueda
- Inmunología y Genética Aplicada S.A (INGENASA). Madrid, Spain
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - John Barr
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Thomas Edwards
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Paul Millner
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Paul Vermeij
- Department Discovery & Technology, MSD Animal Health/Intervet International bv., Wim de Körverstraat 35, P.O. Box 31, 5830AA Boxmeer, the Netherlands
| | - Ad de Groof
- Department Discovery & Technology, MSD Animal Health/Intervet International bv., Wim de Körverstraat 35, P.O. Box 31, 5830AA Boxmeer, the Netherlands
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Eidgenössisches Departement des Inneren, Bern & Mittelhausern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Eidgenössisches Departement des Inneren, Bern & Mittelhausern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Stephen Leib
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roger Koller
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alban Ramette
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Engler
- Federal Office for Civil Protection, Spiez Laboratory, Biology Division, Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Christian Beuret
- Federal Office for Civil Protection, Spiez Laboratory, Biology Division, Spiez, Switzerland
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