In a series of short videos, we hear directly from our partners and the roles of their institutes and research teams on the TBFVnet project.
Daniel Ruzek, PhD, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator at the Veterinary Research Insitute (VRI) in Brno, Czech Republic, is lead partner of the network. In this brief video he talks about the purpose, scope and some of the milestones of the TBFVnet project. He explains how this is important for international collaboration and introduces the work of the VRI. The Czech Republic is at the heart of the endemic area for TBFV, between Western Europe and the East. The research of the Veterinary Research Institute focuses on the pathogenesis of TBE, development and testing vaccines and antivirals and is also involved in national and international surveillance and diagnostic programs. Therefore, the Veterinary Research Institute is best placed to coordinate the activities of TBFVnet.
Boris Klempa, PhD, Head of Virus Ecology Group, and Principal Investigator at the Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, partner in the network, introduces the work of his institute and his Group’s study of the interaction between tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and the tick. He describes how this impacts a One Health approach. The Biomedical Research Center has long-standing expertise in a TBEV-tick-model. This expertise allows characterisation of new virus isolates in terms of their tick replication and transmission efficiency.
Ashild Kristine Andreasson, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health NIPH, introduces her institute and tells us about TBEV, which animals transmit the virus, and the numbers of TBFV infections in Europe and worldwide. She also explains the most typical symptoms, and defines encephalitis. Further, she explains why is it underestimated, and what the scientific community (and the TBFVnet team) can do to improve the surveillance and diagnosis of TBEV and other TickBorne FlaviViruses. Dr. Andreasson touches upon the broader impact of the project to similar studies in this field. NIPH is sequencing and analyzing the genome of TBE isolated viruses in relation to their inflammation potential to the central nervous system. This work will bring new knowledge to improve the diagnostic potential of encephalitis in humans.
Alessandro Marcello, PhD, is Group Leader of the Molecular Virology Laboratory and Principal Investigator at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB in Trieste, Italy. He tells us about the role of ICGEB in this project, the European Economic Area and the Norway Fund. He also explains why it is important to sustain international cooperation in science, and a One Health approach, revealing how this project might be pivotal in finding new therapies or strategies to prevent infection. The Molecular Virology Laboratory in Trieste, Italy studies human pathogenic viruses. Within this project the lab is involved in developing viral diagnostic methods and studies the host cell response to TBEV infection to discover antiviral drugs. The ICGEB has the expertise to promote, facilitate, increment and assist international networking and communication.
Olga Sofronie is a PhD student in the Molecular Virology laboratory at the ICGEB in Trieste, Italy. She tells us her background and what has fuelled her passion for science, by discussing the aim of her project. Since the end of January 2023, she has worked to set up a molecular diagnostic method for TBEV detection. Her involvement in the TBFVnet project at ICGEB Trieste has been predominantly to become familiar with state-of-the-art techniques, equipment, and methodologies. She explains how this has consolidated her research. We also ask about her vision for the future. Her visit has been funded through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation as part of the Tick-Borne Flavivirus network project.
Adam Kevely, PhD student from SAS, Slovakia, spent one month in the Molecular Virology Laboratory at the ICGEB, in Trieste, Italy studying high-throughput screening techniques for antiviral drugs discovery. He also collaborated with the laboratory of Daniel Ruzek, at the VRI in Brno, in the Czech Republic. The results of this collaboration are part of Adam Kevely’s first author scientific paper. Here, he recounts how his involvement in the TBFVnet project has advanced his scientific knowledge and career. He also considers how the possibility to collaborate with other Groups in different countries enriches scientific experience.
Link to the Video interviews with TBFVnet partners on YouTube.