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The CEV is a major national resource for
the study of equine virus diseases in Australia. The work
of the CEV and its antecedents has been published in major
international journals and presented in conferences and
has established for the CEV a major national and international
reputation. |
Graduate training
| The CEV has a very strong record of achievement in PhD
training in Veterinary Virology. Virus diseases continue
to impact greatly on the health and well being of man and
animals and the discipline has for many decades been at the
forefront of contemporary biological research encompassing
all of the advances in molecular and recombinant DNA technologies.
There are many opportunities in academic research and teaching,
in industry and government service for individuals, particularly
graduate veterinarians, who have graduate training in
veterinary virology. Opportunities exist for talented, highly
motivated honours BVSc or BSc graduates to undertake graduate
training in Virology. While the research focus is on equine
viruses the training is generic, broad based and highly portable.
Scholarships are available. |
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For more information contact:
Professor Michael Studdert, Centre for Equine Virology, School
of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Australia
phone +61 3 8344 7373, fax +61 3 8344 7374
Research in Progress
Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV4) and EHV1 are important causes
of respiratory disease and abortion of horses worldwide. We are
studying in particular glycoprotein G which we have utilised
as the basis for a type specific ELISA and we are also attempting
to identify the host cell proteins that bind to glycoprotein
G.
Equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV2) and EHV5 are gammaherpesviruses
most closely related to Epstein Barr virus the cause of infectious
mononucleosis/glandular fever of humans. The equine viruses are
believed to be important pathogens and responsible for a low
grade, febrile illness in horses that result in the need for
many expensive treatments, many lost training days and poor performance.
The entire nucleotide sequence of our prototype strain EHV2.86/67
has been determined (Telford et al. J. Mol. Biol. 249, 520, 1995)
and there are many questions addressable using advanced techniques
in molecular virology. We are currently investigating: cellular
tropism, sites of latency, glycoproteins (including epitope mapping
and the production of monoclonal antibodies) and genomic and
antigenic heterogeneity.
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We have cloned and sequenced the entire genome of equine
rhinovirus 1 and showed that it is not a rhinovirus,
as implied by its given name, but is most closely related
to foot and mouth disease virus. We are also of the view
that this virus is a more significant pathogen for horses
than has been previously recognised.
Mapping, selective sequencing and expression of the
genomes of equine adenoviruses 1 and 2 , equine herpesvirus
3 (equine coital exanthema virus), equine arteritis
virus and equine influenza virus.
Major common themes to many of the studies of these
viruses are: rapid diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction,
development of diagnostic ELISA and vaccine development.
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Further details of Centre staff and research activities are
found in The University of Melbourne - Research
Report
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