Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Institute for Animal Health
Midge genome: Reinforcing the war against viruses
9th July 2012
Researchers at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) have been awarded £680K by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which also awards strategic funding to IAH, to sequence and study the genome of a biting midge that is responsible for spreading serious viral diseases.
There are over 1500 species of Culicoides midges in the world and this will be the first complete genome sequence.
The grant will enable scientists to look for the genetics behind the midge’s ability to transmit globally important diseases of livestock. With new viruses emerging all the time – midges are in the frame for bringing the brand new Schmallenberg virus to the UK earlier this year – and the door to the UK seemingly wide open for insects to blow across from mainland Europe, this research will be vital to protect the agricultural economy and future food security.
The knowledge gained from this project to sequence and annotate the genome of Culicoides sonorensis will open up new avenues for prevention and control of some of the most important diseases of livestock such as bluetongue and African horse sickness.
Dr Mark Fife, Head of Genetics and Genomics at IAH will lead the project, he said “We know that some midges are better at transmitting viruses than others and we have good evidence to suggest that this is down to differences in their genes; the genome sequence will enable us to say which genes are responsible.”
Read more: http://www.iah.ac.uk/FrontStories/2012/MidgeGenome.aspx
Link leads to video
.
Midge genome: Reinforcing the war against viruses
9th July 2012
Researchers at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) have been awarded £680K by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which also awards strategic funding to IAH, to sequence and study the genome of a biting midge that is responsible for spreading serious viral diseases.
There are over 1500 species of Culicoides midges in the world and this will be the first complete genome sequence.
The grant will enable scientists to look for the genetics behind the midge’s ability to transmit globally important diseases of livestock. With new viruses emerging all the time – midges are in the frame for bringing the brand new Schmallenberg virus to the UK earlier this year – and the door to the UK seemingly wide open for insects to blow across from mainland Europe, this research will be vital to protect the agricultural economy and future food security.
The knowledge gained from this project to sequence and annotate the genome of Culicoides sonorensis will open up new avenues for prevention and control of some of the most important diseases of livestock such as bluetongue and African horse sickness.
Dr Mark Fife, Head of Genetics and Genomics at IAH will lead the project, he said “We know that some midges are better at transmitting viruses than others and we have good evidence to suggest that this is down to differences in their genes; the genome sequence will enable us to say which genes are responsible.”
Read more: http://www.iah.ac.uk/FrontStories/2012/MidgeGenome.aspx
Link leads to video
.