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Veterinary and Zoootic Virology
(VEZ-VIR)
The overarching goal of our work is to contribute to increased animal welfare and food safety in the Danish animal production. The core research areas are enzootic viral diseases in pigs and other production animals and zoonotic viruses in pigs and birds.
The aim of the work is also to generate increased understanding of the biology of particular viruses that cause important diseases in animals so that improved methods of disease control can be developed. The focus is mainly on diseases that are not usually present in Europe but represent a major threat if introduced. Our interests include aspects of foot-and-mouth disease virus, African swine fever virus and coronaviruses.
Contact
The Veterinary and Zoootic Virology group
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Dyrlægevej 88, building 1-09
Frederiksberg Campus
DK-1870 Frederiksberg C
Influenza A virus (IAV) is an important pathogen in humans and animals and has zoonotic potential. Pigs are regarded as a melting pot for generation of new reassortant viruses potentially with zoonotic and pandemic capabilities.
“Thus, more knowledge on viral and host molecular determinants of host range restriction of new influenza A virus strains discovered in animals are urgently needed”, says research group leader Professor Lars Erik Larsen .
We want to extend our previous work to study the basic mechanism of host range determinants and virulence of influenza A viruses. We will establish in vitro and ex vivo cell and tissue cultures that allow the study of influenza virus/host interaction and infection dynamics and further develop the previous
Of scientifical highlights, my group was the first to demonstrate that the distribution of siliac acid receptors in pigs are similar to humans and that avian influenza virus primary replicates in type 2 pneumocytes of svine similar to humans.
During the last four years, we have performed a range of studies that emphatized that swIAV is a major veterinary pathogen in all age groups including piglets and that the virus persists in the herds and is subjected to significant antigenic and genetic evolution comparable to human influenza viruses. Furthermore, we have documented that the effect of vaccination and pre-existing immunity not only lack protective effects, but even may contribute to viral persistence. We want to focus on exploring the basic mechanism behind this by design of experimental in vivo trials and field studies, by establishing ex vivo and in vitro systems and by extensive molecular epidemiological studies.
Kvisgaard LK, Larsen LE, Kristensen CS, Paboeuf F, Renson P, Bourry O. 2021. Challenge of Naïve and Vaccinated Pigs with a Vaccine-Derived Recombinant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus 1 Strain (Horsens Strain). Vaccines 9(5):417. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050417
Liang Y, Nissen JN, Krog JS, Breum SØ, Trebbien R, Larsen LE, Hjulsager CK. 2021. Novel Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N8 and H5N5 Viruses in Denmark, 2020. Viruses 13(5):886. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050886
Jensen KJ, Tolstrup LK, Knobel DL, Aaby P, Jungersen G, Larsen LE, Kristensen CS, Benn CS. 2021. Non-specific effects of maternal and offspring rabies vaccination on mortality and antibiotic use in a Danish pig herd: A randomized trial. Vaccine S0264-410X(21)00399-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.083
Welner S, Ruggli N, Liniger M, Summerfield A, Larsen LE, Jungersen G. 2021. Reduced Virus Load in Lungs of Pigs Challenged with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus after Vaccination with Virus Replicon Particles Encoding Conserved PRRSV Cytotoxic T-Cell Epitopes. Vaccines 9(3):208.; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9030208
Ryt-Hansen, P.; Pedersen, A.G.; Larsen, I.; Kristensen, C.S.; Krog, J.S.; Wacheck, S.; Larsen, L.E. 2020. Substantial Antigenic Drift in the Hemagglutinin Protein of Swine Influenza A Viruses. Viruses 12, 248. ; https://doi.org/10.3390/v12020248
Goecke NB, Kobberø M, Kusk TK, Hjulsager CK, Pedersen KS, Kristensen CS, Larsen LE. 2020. Objective pathogen monitoring in nursery and finisher pigs by monthly laboratory diagnostic testing. Porcine Health Manag. 6:23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-020-00161-3
C S Kristensen, M G Christiansen, K Pedersen, L E Larsen. 2020. Production losses five months after outbreak with a recombinant of two PRRSV vaccine strains in 13 Danish sow herds. Porcine Health Manag. 6:26. ; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-020-00165-z
Redskaber til kontrol af virusinfektioner i danske kalve
Samarbejde: Tobias Volhøj, Dyrlæge og Ko
Formål: At undersøge smittedynamikken og den kliniske betydning af Influenza D virus i danske kalve.
Bevillingsgiver: Kvægafgiftsfonden 1.1.2024-31.12.2024. kr. 749.000.
Redskaber til kontrol af virusinfektioner i danske svin
SEGES Innovation har/har planlagt at indsamle prøver i 2-3 besætninger med henblik på at undersøge effekten af en række management tiltag på reduktion af smittetrykket i farestalden. KU gennemfører de tilknyttede virusundersøgelser.
Sponsor: Svineafgiftsfonden, 1.1.2024-31.12.2024
Study of the efficacy of combined vaccination with Vectormune ND and Vectormune AI in laying hens
The project aims to investigate the strength and duration of immunity induced by a combination vaccination strategy with Vectormune® ND and Vectormune® AI. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of the vaccines and can be used to assess whether this strategy can be used in the Danish poultry sector.
Sponsor: Fjerkræafgiftsfonden/Poultry Levy Foundation. 01.01.23-31.12.23
Avian influenza: Diagnosis and molecular biological characterization
The project will increase our basic knowledge of the epidemiology of AIV in Danish conditions and will lead to the development of more refined diagnostic tests.
Grant: Veterinary contingency program. 2019-21. 2.5 million DKK.
Control of viral infections relevant to piglet mortality
The project aims to develop and implement knowledge-based counseling tools to control the most important virus infections in Danish pig production, specifically aimed at reducing piglet mortality.
Funding: Svineafgiftsfonden; 1,825,000 DKK. Period: 2023.
FluZooMark: Viral and Host Factors of Zoonotic and Pandemic Influenza A Viruses
Researchers in virology and immunology in animals and humans will work together to characterize human and animal influenza viruses to find out why some influenza viruses can transmit from swine to humans. The project is expected to generate groundbreaking new tools for preventing future influenza pandemics in humans and provide knowledge that can be used in the future to design improved vaccines for humans and animals.
Funding: Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge program 2019. 60 mill. DKK.
PIGIE - Understanding the dynamics and evolution of swine influenza viruses in Europe
Researchers from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom will perform a longitudinal that will provide essential knowledge for improved intervention and sustainable pig production, and will also be important for further development of more accurate diagnostic tools and relevant vaccines.
Funding: ICRAD; 1,353,000 DKK (1,375,00 EURO in total)
Swine influenza viruses in Denmark: Prevalence and genetic and antigenic characterization
The overall purpose of the project is to investigate which influenza subtypes and variants that are circulating among Danish pigs and to identify disease causes in the pig population with a view to securing the strategic goal: to reduce antibiotic consumption in Danish pig herds.
Funding: CEVA Animal Health and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. 2021. DKK 1.054,000.
Selected ongoing projects:
FluZooMark - zoonotic aspects of swine influenza viruses - 2020-2025 - Novo Nordisk Foundation - 60 mill. DKK
PRRSV - sequencing, opathogenesis, vaccine strategies- 2020 - SEGES - 400,000 DKK
PRRSV - impact of mass vaccination - Svineafgiftsfonden/European PRRSV award - 450,000 DKK
Svine influenza virus - diversity, diagnostics, control - 2020 - 490,000 DKK
Avian influenza virus – pathogeneses and host range – DK-Vet Consortium – 2020-2022 – 3 mill. DKK
Group/project members
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedsted, Amalie Ehlers | PhD Fellow | +4535322562 | |
| Belsham, Graham John | Professor | +4535334565 | |
| George, Sophie Joanna | Research Assistant | ||
| Goecke, Nicole Bakkegård | Postdoc | +4535327222 | |
| Grønnegaard, Nina Dam | Laboratory Technician | +4535328312 | |
| Kristensen, Charlotte | Postdoc | +4535325008 | |
| Kristensen, Thea | Postdoc | +4535326340 | |
| Larsen, Lars Erik | Professor | +4535332329 | |
| Lazov, Christina Marie | Postdoc | +4535324673 | |
| Liang, Yuan | Research Assistant | +4535337865 | |
| Martiny, Karen | PhD Fellow | +4535322266 | |
| Normann, Preben | Laboratory Technician | +4535330117 | |
| Petric, Philipp Peter | Postdoc | +4535331118 | |
| Rogersen, Jonathan Rahlff | External | +4535325694 | |
| Romar, Mathias | PhD Fellow | +4535333553 | |
| Ryt-Hansen, Pia | Postdoc | +4535334530 | |
| Schmidt, Marianne Viuf Agerlin | PhD Fellow | +4535333043 | |
| Selnihhin, Denis | Postdoc | +4535325489 | |
| Tran, Hue Thi Thanh | Laboratory Technician | +4535322549 |
University of Copenhagen
Grønnegårdsvej 15, 1870 Frederiksberg C