Virology
Programme sponsor
Post-pandemic respiratory viral infections in hospitals
Post-pandemic respiratory viral infections in hospitals
Virology
Learning outcomes
Severe infection is always bacterial …. right?
What has COVID taught us about respiratory viral infections?
Delegates will gain knowledge on:
- Common respiratory virus infections in the UK.
- Risk of spread in hospital.
- Hospital acquired viral respiratory tract infections - what are the risks, what do they look like
- Infection control of viral respiratory tract infections
Speakers
Dr Brendan Healy
Emerging arthropod-borne viral threats to the UK
Emerging arthropod-borne viral threats to the UK
Virology
Abstract
Globally, arthropod-borne viral diseases represent one the of greatest threats to public and animal health. Vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and midges transmit a vast range of viruses. For the UK, historically free of many arthropod-borne pathogens, events in mainland Europe have had a profound impact on the risk of disease emergence and this trend will continue. Mosquito-borne viruses provide an example of this process where the introduction of exotic species, such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) across much of Europe, has increased the risk of emergence of human pathogens such as dengue and chikungunya fever. This mosquito species has also been detected in southern England.
In recent decades there has been a dramatic increase in the distribution of zoonotic viruses such as West Nile and Usutu in mainland Europe that are making the introduction of these pathogens through short distance bird migration increasingly likely. This has been realised with the repeated detection of Usutu virus in Central London during the late summer months since 2020. In the absence of vaccines against many of these viruses, early detection linked to public awareness campaigns offer the best options for mitigating the impact of these threats.
Learning outcomes
Delegates will learn:
- What are the arthropod vector species responsible for arthropod-borne virus transmission to humans, livestock and wildlife.
- Which viruses have emerged in the United Kingdom in recent years and what are the drivers of emergence.
- Emphasis on the importance of surveillance in detection and control of emerging arthropod-borne viruses.
Speakers
Dr Nick Johnson
The changing epidemiology of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
The changing epidemiology of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
Virology
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is the most widely distributed hard tick-borne disease in the world.
Different factors, such as a better knowledge of the disease, but also trade, modifications of the migratory bird routes and, probably, the climate change are favouring its increase.
The example of the emergence in Spain will be reviewed.
Learning outcomes
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is the most widely distributed hard tick-borne disease in the world.
Through the discussion of the emergence in Spain delegates will understand how different factors, such as better knowledge of the disease, but also trade, migratory bird routes and possibly climate change are favouring its increase.
Speakers
Dr Aránzazu Portillo
Performance of a new molecular Point-of-Care system for respiratory viruses under field conditions
Performance of a new molecular Point-of-Care system for respiratory viruses under field conditions
Virology
Abstract
The presentation provides an overview on the technology and analytical performance of a new true molecular point of care testing system without need for upfront specimen preparation, and the potential benefits resulting from its use at the point of care. The presentation also discusses key aspects to be considered prior to implementation at the point of care
Speakers
Dr Jürgen Becker
Next-generation molecular diagnostics: Leveraging digital technologies to enhance multiplexing in real-time PCR
Career and qualification progression in virology
Career and qualification progression in virology
Virology
Abstract
The dynamic of virological diagnosis has transformed dramatically over the past few years in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, with significant changes to equipment and technology, workforce, workload and expertise. This presentation looks at those changes and focuses on the challenges observed and how these will continue over the coming years for virology departments across the country.
Learning Outcomes
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What challenges have been felt over the previous few years
- What options and efforts are available for training and development needs
- What future challenges and opportunities are available to support the evolving services
Speakers
Gareth Pierce-Wilding
Evolution of infectious disease Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) across Wales - National POCT Lead perspective
Near-patient testing - (self-collected samples; breath test to bloods)
Targeting HIV where it hurts - progress on vaccines
Targeting HIV where it hurts - progress on vaccines
Virology
Abstract
Effective vaccine must deal with extreme HIV-1 variability and do so without guidance from natural immunity. For HIV-1, vaccines may need to induce both bNAbs and protective CD8+ killer T cells, the latter of which clearly impose a selective pressure on the virus and their protective potential should be harnessed by vaccines. However, not all antibodies and CD8+ T cells are protective; they must target vulnerable parts on HIV-1 proteins.
The central paradigm of the HIVconsvX T-cell vaccine strategy is focusing T cells on the functionally conserved regions of the HIV-1 Gag and Pol proteins, which are very similar among global isolates and harbour fewer escape mutations. At the epitope level, the remaining variability within the conserved regions is addressed computationally by using a bi-valent mosaic. Results of the first trials testing the HIVconsvX vaccine candidates confirmed that conserved sub-dominant and, therefore, underused T-cell epitopes taken out of the context of the whole virus or full-length viral proteins can induce robust and broad T-cell responses when delivered by an effective heterologous regimen such as ChAdOx1-MVA.
Progress towards an effective HIV-1 vaccine has been slow and riddled with many setbacks. However, systematic iterative development of vaccine components for both neutralizing antibodies and effective T cells informed by human data is beginning to pay off by bringing the first encouragements endorsing the field’s overall direction of travel.
Learning outcomes
Effective vaccines must deal with extreme HIV-1 variability and do so without guidance from natural immunity. For HIV-1, vaccines may need to induce both bNAbs and protective CD8+ killer T cells, the latter of which clearly impose a selective pressure on the virus and their protective potential should be harnessed by vaccines. However, not all antibodies and CD8+ T cells are protective; they must target vulnerable parts on HIV-1 proteins.
The devil about the recently failed vaccine trials is, of course, in the vaccines themselves [which many reports fail to describe in sufficient detail]. In brief, we, as a field, can do better than Uhambo and Mosaico for induction of bNAbs through using stabilized Env trimers and not gp120 and gp140, respectively. For induction of protective CD8+ T cells, we use heterologous prime-boost regimens and target conserved (shared and harder to escape) sub-protein regions. Mosaic design is just the cherry on the top of the cake best dealing with residual variability of conserved regions, but not addressing variability across the entire proteome.
mRNA is not a universal solution; it still matters which immunogens mRNA delivers, these immunogens have to deal with HIV-1 variability and as a modality, mRNA may need at least initially heterologous boost for induction of protective CD8+ T cell responses.
Speakers
Professor Tomáš Hanke
What’s new in antivirals? (Antivirals & Mabs as therapeutics)
What’s new in antivirals? (Antivirals & Mabs as therapeutics)
Virology
Delegates attending this presentation will gain knowledge on:
- the antiviral drugs available for treating COVID-19
- the new drugs for treating and preventing CMV
- the emerging role of monoclonal antibodies in treating viral infections
Speakers
Dr Brendan Payne
In vitro studies of antiviral treatment options for important human pathogens
In vitro studies of antiviral treatment options for important human pathogens
Virology
This presentation will give delegates an introduction to important human viruses, their treatment with antivirals and possibilities for preventing antiviral resistance. Implications of recently identified metabolic capping of hepatitis C virus.
Speakers
Professor Jens Bukh
In-house tests to CE marked - Impact on the laboratory (Debate – impact on laboratory vs commercial company)
Pandemics – Past (polio; smallpox; Ebola)
Pandemics – Past (polio; smallpox; Ebola)
Virology
Abstract
This lecture will overview previous viral pandemics affecting humans and highlight lessons learned (or not). This lecture will provide the audience with background information relevant to the two subsequent talks on pandemics currently affecting and what might come next. At the end of this talk the audience will have knowledge on some major pathogenic viruses that have impacted hugely on the human population including:
Smallpox; influenza; polio; yellow fever; HIV and Ebola that bring us up to the novel coronavirus outbreaks that have plagued mankind during more recent years.
Speakers
