Understanding pathogen, livestock and environmental interactions involving bluetongue
The bluetongue virus (BTV) is a highly pathogenic virus that affects ruminants and can have a mortality rate of up to 70% in sheep. It is an arbovirus, which means it’s transmitted by insects, specifically Culicoides biting midges.
Here at The University of Nottingham, we’re coordinating PALE-Blu, a €1.3 million European Union Horizon 2020 funded project, studying bluetongue. Funding was awarded in 2017 and we’re leading a team of researchers from institutes in 14 countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, the Netherlands, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, and the UK.
The project brings together researchers with expertise in BTV and its diagnosis, including partners in endemic regions like Africa, the Middle East and Turkey.
A wide-ranging study with huge potential
We have a broad remit, with different work packages including performing full-genome sequence analyses. These will increase the accuracy of BTV-strain distribution maps and help us identify pathways by which BTV can spread into and within Europe.
Another aspect of the project is analysing the genetic relatedness of populations of Culicoides in different regions. Using reverse genetics technologies, we can introduce differences seen between various strains and serotypes of bluetongue, examining how these replicate in different Culicoides species and cell lines. This will shed light on the risk of incursion by different viruses.
We’re also studying the ability of saliva proteins produced by different species of Culicoides to influence transmission of the virus between different hosts.
Spotlight project
Developing improved vaccines and treatments
A key part of PALE-Blu is the exploration of more effective, cross-serotype subunit vaccines, which allow assays to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). These DIVA assays can be used to generate a stronger immune response from a single inoculation. We’re also investigating the potential use of antiviral agents to induce immediate protection until vaccines can take effect.
In addition, we’re improving diagnosis of bluetongue, developing diagnostic approaches that can better detect mixed infections of BTV belonging to different serotypes. We’re achieving this by multiplexing existing diagnostic assay systems, as well as developing novel alternatives.