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New insights on how FMDV replicates
The team are now looking at how mutations in polyproteins could be used for producing attenuated vaccines.
Tiny protein could be the key to better vaccines  

Fresh insights on the replication processes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) could pave the way for more effective vaccines, scientists say.

New findings published in PLOS Pathogens describe a tiny protein called 3B3, which is known to play a major role in the replication of FMDV. However, it also helps to increase the efficiency with which it can pack information into the genome, according to the Pirbright Institute and the University of Leeds.

FMD has a small amount of genetic material, so it has found ways to multiply its functions. During replication, the virus creates a string of proteins called polyproteins which are then cut up into their individual proteins. The research team discovered that 3B3 is key to directing the processing of the P3 polyprotein into its constituent parts.

Such methods are also used by other members of the picornavirus family, such as poliovirus, as well as non-picornaviruses.

Scientists say that systems such as these could be exploited to develop attenuated vaccines. The team are now looking at how mutations in polyproteins could be used for producing such vaccines.

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Pet Blood Bank announces twists to annual fundraiser

News Story 1
 Pet Blood Bank has revealed that its annual fundraiser, 'Around the Coast in 30 Days', will now include mini challenges.

It is the fourth year of the challenge, which asks people to walk, run, swim or cycle a part of a 11,232 mile goal.

However this year's fundraiser, starting 1 May, includes extra challenges throughout the month. Pet Blood Bank says these tasks will showcase its work.

The challenge can be completed individually, or as a team, with miles recorded on the participant's fundraising page.

Register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
SCOPS updates anthelmintics guide

The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has published an updated version of its free guide to anthelmintics.

Know Your Anthelmintics, created to help farmers and livestock keepers, lists the available products for treating internal and external parasites in sheep and gives advice on how they should be administered. This includes guidance on drenching and injecting correctly and minimising the impact that anthelmintics have on the environment.

The new version contains information about products released in recent months and changes to older products.

Kevin Harrison, sheep farmer and SCOPS chair, said: "I can't count the times I've used the SCOPS Know Your Anthelmintics guide when making decisions about my flock, to remind myself which group a wormer belongs to or check other details."

The guide is available on the SCOPS website.