OIE Collaborating Centre Reports
Activities in 2010
Title of Collaborating Centre:
Address of Collaborating Centre
Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of
Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
Joint Virology Research and Development Division,
National Veterinary Institute (SVA) and
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU),
Travvägen 22, 751 89 Uppsala,
SWEDEN
Tel.:
(+46-18) 67.40.00
Fax:
(+46-18) 67.44.67
e-mail address:
1: sandor.belak@slu.se
2: sandor.belak@sva.se
3: karl.stahl@slu.se
website:
www.sva.se/oie-cc
Name of Head of Centre
(Responsible Official):
Professor Sándor Belák
Name of OIE Contact Point:
Professor Sándor Belák
Name of writer of this report
Dr Karl Ståhl and Prof. Sándor Belák
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
Part I: Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres
1.
Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques
within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE
During 2008 the OIE Biological Standard Commission accepted a request to extend our mandate as an OIE
Collaborating Centre at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala to include the Swedish University of
Veterinary Science (SLU) as a partner, as indicated in the letter of the 3 October 2008, signed by Dr Bernard
Vallat, Director General of the OIE.
The activities of the Collaborating Centre are managed by the OIE CC Board, which includes scientists from
various departments of SVA and SLU. Board members 2010 are: Prof. Sándor Belák (chairman, director of OIE
CC, SVA and SLU), Prof. Anders Engvall (Director General, SVA), Dr. Jean-Francois Valarcher (Head of VIP,
virology, immunobiology and parasitology, SVA), Prof. Mikael Berg (virology, SLU), Dr. Anna Aspán
(bacteriology, SVA), Dr. Karin Artursson (research dir. Coordinator, SVA), Dr. Viveka Båverud (Head,
bacteriology, SVA), Dr. Mikael Juremalm (Head, virology molecular routine diagnostics, SVA), and Dr. Karl
Ståhl (scientific secretary of OIE CC, virology and molecular epidemiology, SVA and SLU).
Research in the frame of EU projects
The Collaborating Centre is currently conducting research and training in five EU projects, which include tasks on
the improvement of molecular and “on site” diagnostics, development of new methods for improved food safety,
as well as the international harmonisation and standardisation of the diagnostic procedures. The work is performed
at the Joint Virology Research and Development Division, at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA,
http://www.sva.se/) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU, http://www.slu.se/), in close
collaboration with the other departments at SVA. Further local collaborators are the Department of Pathology,
SVA, Svanova Biotech AB, Olink AB, the Section of Clinical Virology, Department of Medical Sciences, as well
as the Department of Genetics and Pathology/Molecular Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Internationally, the collaborators are the large consortia of the ongoing EU projects, representing a very wide
network of animal health issues over Europe and other continents (see below). The collaboration is active also
with our sister Collaborating Centre at IAEA in Vienna: the “OIE Collaborating Centre for ELISA and
Molecular Technologies in Animal Disease Diagnosis”.
Recently closed project, results are continuously obtained, dissemination is ongoing, website is regularly
updated:
SSP3-513 645: New and emerging technologies: improved laboratory and on-site detection of OIE List A viruses
in animals and animal products. Acronym: LAB-ON-SITE (2004-2008).
Web address: http://www.labonsite.com/
Role: Co-ordinator
SSP1- 501599: Epidemiology and control of classical swine fever (CSF) in wild boar and potential use of a newly
developed live marker vaccine. Acronym: CSFVACCINE & WILDBOAR (2004-2007).
Web address: http://www.csfvaccine.org/
Role: Partner
Food-CT-2004-506122: Network for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses. Acronym: MED-VET-NET (20042009).
Web address: http://www.medvetnet.com/
Role: Partner
SSP5-044266: The EU, China and South East Asia Dialog for the Development of Research Areas in Animal
Health of Mutual Interest. Acronym: ASEMDialog (2007-2009)
Role: Partner
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
Food-CT-2005-007081: Development of cost-effective control and prevention strategies for emerging and future
foodborne pathogenic microorganisms throughout the food chain. Acronym: PATHOGEN COMBAT (20052010).
Web address: http://www.pathogencombat.com:80/
Role: Partner (SLU)
SSP5-044429: Improved Diagnosis and Early Warning Systems for Avian Influenza Outbreak Management.
Acronym: FLUTEST (2007-2010).
Web address: http://www.flu-test.eu
Role: Partner
Ongoing projects:
FOOD-CT-2006-016236: Network of Excellence for Epizootic Disease Diagnosis and Control. Acronym:
EPIZONE (2006-2011).
Web address: http://www.epizone-eu.net/
Role: Partner
SSPE-044212: International training course in molecular diagnostics of influenza virus directed towards INCO
countries. Acronym FLUTRAIN (2007-2011)
Web address: http://www.flutrain.eu
Role: Partner
SSP5-04462: Capacity building for the control of Avian influenza through technology transfer and training
directed towards INCO countries. Acronym: ConFluTech (2007-2011)
Web address:http://www.conflutech.net
Role: Partner
KBBE-2007-1-3-05: Evaluating and controlling the risk of African swine fever in the EU. Acronym: ASFRISK
(2008-2011)
Web address: http://www.asfrisk.eu/
Role: Partner
KBBE-2008-1-3-03: Improve tools and strategies for the prevention and control of classical swine fever.
Acronym: CSF_goDIVA (2009-2013)
Web address: http://www.csfvaccine.org/
Role: Partner
AniBioThreat, started now, information will be provided in the next report
In these projects a high number of European partner laboratories, external partners and subcontractors work
together on various subjects, including the international standardisation and harmonisation of PCR-based
diagnostic assays.
The total number of partners participating in the listed projects:
MULTIPLEX PCR:
LAB-ON-SITE:
CSFVACCINE & WILDBOAR:
MED-VET-NET:
PATHOGEN COMBAT:
EPIZONE
FLUTEST
FLUTRAIN
ConFluTech
AsemDialog
ASFRISK
CSFgoDIVA
6 partners
9 partners
9 partners
15 partners
42 partners
20 partners
17 partners
12 partners
15 partners
13 partners
17 partners
17 partners
Detailed information on international standardisation and validation is indicated on the web sites of the projects,
including material and SOP transfer.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
2.
Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international
regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal
welfare
No
3.
Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
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Consultant expertise was provided to OIE, IAEA and FAO by regular change of information and by
participation on meetings, see below.
Previous chairmanship in the work of the OIE ad hoc Group on Biotechnology, Paris, France, regular
meetings, preparation of recommendations and reports in biotechnology issues.
Participation in the work of the European Platform for Global Animal Health, Brussels, Belgium, regular
meetings, preparation of recommendations and reports in issues of Transboundary Animal Diseases.
Participation in the work of the Animal Production and Health Section, FAO/IAEA Joint Division, IAEA,
Vienna (sister Collaborating Centre, see above). Development of novel diagnostic methods, international
standardisation and validation, providing SOPs to member countries, international training.
Participation in various OIE symposia and consultation meetings.
Preparation of an ESVV/OIE Workshop “Combination of Classical and Molecular Virology” in Vienna in
2011.
Areas of expertise
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Research, novel biotechnology-based techniques (e.g., microarrays, isothermal amplification, rapid
sequencing) aimed for diagnostic use
Diagnostic real-time PCR assays
Novel tools of virus detection, e.g. proximity ligation techniques
Molecular epidemiology
Laboratory automation, molecular diagnostics
Quality assurance and validation of molecular assays
Part II: Other activities related to the mandate
of OIE Collaborating Centres
4.
Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to
personnel from OIE Members
The laboratory provided training for scientists visiting from various countries to Uppsala. In addition, the
laboratory housed prominent experts, in order to exchange ideas and improve the level of molecular diagnosis.
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Prof. Gerrit Viljoen, Section Head, Animal Production and Health Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of
Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria. Visit: 1 day. Subject: Discussions on joint
activities between the two sister OIE collaborating centres
Dr. Sandra Cuevas Romero, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Disciplinarias en Microbiologia Animal
INIFAP. México D.F, Mexico. Visit: 2 months. Subject: research collaboration on the molecular
epidemiology of porcine rubula virus (LPMV).
Ms. Marta Perez Sancho., Ph. D. Student, ISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense of
Madrid, Spain. Visit: 3 months. Subject: Short term mission for training in modern molecular techniques
Mr. Shandian Gao, PhD student, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. Visit: 10 weeks. Subject:
Short term mission focusing on pestivirus diagnostics using liquid-phase microarray (Luminex) technology.
Ms. Márta Reining, Biologist Prophyl Animal Health Diagnostic and Research Ltd., 7700 Mohács, Hungary.
Visit: 5 months. Subject: Complex diagnosis of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine- Development of
liquid-phase microarrays (Luminex) for the improved detection and identification of viruses of swine and
poultry
Dao Duy Tung, DVM, National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR), Hanoi, Vietnam. Visit: 3 weeks.
Subject: Training in molecular methods for diagnosis of African swine fever.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
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5.
Martí Cortey Marquès, PhD, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la UAB – Edifici
CReSA 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain. Visit: Two days. Subject: Received a grant from the
Catalan Government and will join the OIE CC for one year research on new molecular diagnostic techniques
and antibiotic resistance determination in 2011.
Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE
No
6.
Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories,
organisations or collaborating centres
The Collaborating Centre is co-ordinator or partner in five ongoing EU projects (see above). In the frame of these
projects large international networks collaborate on development of new molecular diagnostic methods,
international standardisation and validation (see web sites of the projects for details).
7.
Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the
OIE that may be useful to Members of the OIE
Publications and presentations of the OIE CC in 2010
Book, published with our sister Collaborating Centre in Vienna
Pestana, EA, Belák, S., Diallo, A., Crowther, JR, Viljoen. G, J.: Early, Rapid and Sensitive Veterinary Molecular
Diagnostics - Real Time PCR Applications. Handbook, Springer Dordrecht Press, Heidelberg, London, New York,
2010.
PhD Thesis
Anne-Lie Blomström: Applications of Viral Metagenomics in the Veterinary Field, Looking for the Unknown.
PhD Thesis, SLU, 2010.
Articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals
1.
LeBlanc, N. G., Rasmussen, T.B., Fernández-Pinero, J., Sailleau, C., Uttenthal, Å., Zientara, S., Belák, S.,
Hakhverdyan, M.: Development of a real-time RT-PCR assay based on primer-probe energy transfer for the
detection of all serotypes of bluetongue virus. J. Virol. Methods. 2010. 167. 165-71.
2.
Schlingemann, J., Leijon, M., Yacoub, A., Schlingemann, H., Zohari, S., Matyi-Tóth, A., Kiss, I., Holmquist,
G., Nordengrahn, A., Landegren, U., Ekström, B., Belák, S.: Novel means of viral antigen identification:
Improved detection of avian influenza viruses by proximity ligation. Journal of Virological Methods, 2010.
163. 116-22.
3.
LeBlanc, N., Leijon, M., Jobs, M., Blomberg, J., Belák, S. 2009. A novel combination of TaqMan RT-PCR
and a suspension microarray assay for the detection and species identification of pestiviruses. Vet. Microbiol.
2010. 142:81-6.
4.
Ståhl, K., Beer, M., Shirrmeier, H., Hoffmann, B., Belák, S., Alenius, S.: Atypical ‘HoBi’-like pestivirusesrecent findings and implications thereof. Vet, Microbiol. 2010.142: 90-3.
5.
Xia, H., Liu, L., Nordengrahn, A., Kiss, I., Merza, M., Eriksson, R., Blomberg, J., Belák, S.: A microspherebased immunoassay for rapid and sensitive detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus antibodies. J Virol
Methods. 2010. 168:18-21.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
6.
Muradrasoli, S., Mohamed, N., Belák, S., Czifra, G., Herrmann, B., Berencsi, G., Blomberg, J.: Broadly
targeted triplex real-time PCR detection of influenza A, B and C viruses based on the nucleoprotein gene and
a novel "MegaBeacon" probe strategy. J Virol Methods. 2010. 163. 313-322
7.
Zhang, XJ, Sun, Y., Liu, L., Belák, S., Qiu, HJ: Validation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification
assay for visualised detection of wild-type classical swine fever virus. J Virol Methods. 2010. 167. 74-78.
8.
Szeleczky, Z., Bálint, A., Gyarmati, P., Metreveli,G., Dán, A., Ursu, K., Belák, S., Lomniczi, B., Kiss, I.:
Characterization of two low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in Hungary in 2007. Vet Microbiol.
2010. 145:142-7.
9.
Muradrasoli, S., Bálint, A., Wahlgren, J., Waldenström, J., Belák, S., Blomberg, J. and Olsen, B.: Prevalence
and Phylogenetic Relationship of Coronaviruses in Wild Birds from the Bering Strait Area (Beringia). PLoS
One. 2010 Oct 29;5(10):e13640.
10.
Zohari, S., Metreveli, G., Kiss, I., Belák, S., Berg, M: Full genome comparison and characterization of avian
H10 1 viruses with different pathogenicity in Mink (Mustela vison) reveals genetic and functional differences
in the non-structural gene. Virol J. 2010 Jun 30;7(1):145. [Epub ahead of print]
11. Zohari, S., Munir, M., Metreveli, G., Belák, S., Berg, M.: Differences in the ability to suppress the interferon
b production between allele A and allele B NS1 proteins from H10 influenza viruses. Virolgy Journal, 2010.
7. 736.
12. Xia, H., Wahlberg, N., Belák, S., Meng, X.J., Liu, L.: The emergence of genotypes 3 and 4 hepatitis E virus
in swine and human: a phylogenetic perspective. Archives of Virolgy, 2010 Oct 7. [Epub ahead of print]
13. Blomström, A-L., Widén, F., Belák, S., and Berg M. 2010: Detection of a novel astrovirus in brain tissues of
minks suffering from shaking mink syndrome by applying methods of viral metagenomics. Journal of
Clinical Microbiology, 2010 Dec;48(12):4392-6. Epub 2010 Oct 6.
14. Blomström, A-L., Fossum, C., Belák, S., Wallgren, P. and Berg M. 2010: Studies of porcine circovirus type
2, porcine boca-like virus and torque teno virus indicate the presence of multiple viral infections in
postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome pigs. Virus Res. 2010 Sep;152(1-2):59-64.
15. Zhang, X-J., Xia, H., Everett, H., Sosa, O., Crooke, H., Belák, S., Widén, F., Qiu, H-J., Liu, L.: Evaluation of
a primer-probe energy transfer real-time PCR assay for detection of classical swine fever virus. Virus
Research, 2010. 168. 259-61
16. Zhang, X.J., Han, Q.,Y., Sun Y, Belák, S., Liu L, Qiu, H.J.: Development of a loop-mediated isothermal
amplification for visual detection of the HCLV vaccine against classical swine fever in China. J Virol
Methods. 2010 Nov 3. [Epub ahead of print]
17. Rola, J., Larska, M., Rola ,J.G., Belák, S., Autorino, G.L.Epizotiology and phylogeny of equine arteritis virus
in hucul horses.Vet Microbiol. 2010 Sep 16. [Epub ahead of print]
18. Zohari, S., Metreveli ,G., Kiss, I., Belák ,S., Berg, M.: Full genome comparison and characterization of avian
H10 viruses with different pathogenicity in Mink (Mustela vison) reveals genetic and functional differences
in the non-structural gene. Virol J. 2010 Jun 30;7:145.
19. Widén, F., Sundqvist, L., Matyi-Tóth, A., Metreveli, G., Belák, S., Hallgren, G., Norder, H.: Molecular
epidemiology of hepatitis E virus in humans, pigs and wild boars in Sweden. Epidemiol Infect. 2010 Jun
14:1-11. [Epub ahead of print]
20. Ronish, B., Hakhverdyan, M, Ståhl, K., Belák, S., Leblanc, N., Wangh, L.: Design and verification of a
highly reliable Linear-After-The-Exponential PCR (LATE-PCR) assay for the detection of African swine
fever virus. J Virol Methods. 2010 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print]
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Biotechnology-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine
21. Kiss, I., Bálint, A., Metreveli, G., Emmoth, E., Widén, F., Belák, S., Wallgren P.: Swine influenza viruses
isolated in 1983, 2002 and 2009 in Sweden exemplify different lineages. Acta Vet Scand. 2010 Dec
14;52(1):65.
Presentations on congresses and symposia
LeBlanc, N., Everett, H., Leijon, M., Jobs, M., Blomberg, J., Belák, S.: TaqMan RT-PCR and xMAP technology
for the detection and species identification of pestiviruses. Bio-Plex User Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden, May 11,
2010, Oral presentation.
LeBlanc, N., Ståhl, K., Hakhverdyan, M., Belák, S.: ASFV subtyping array based on SNPs in the major capsid
protein, p72. Annual Meeting EU FP7 Project, Evaluating and controlling the risk of African swine fever in the
EU., Perugia, Italy, June 28, 2010, Oral presentation.
LeBlanc, N., Hjertner, B., Ståhl, K., Hakhverdyan, M., Belák, S.: Testing of molecular assays on portable
platforms. EU FP7 Project, Evaluating and controlling the risk of African swine fever in the EU, Annual Meeting,
Perugia, Italy, June 28, 2010, Oral presentation.
LeBlanc, N., Carrillo, A.C., Thissen, J., Belák, S., Naraghi-Arani, P.: Detection and Subtyping of Influenza A
using a Dedicated Suspension Microarray. European Network of Excellence, 4 th Annual Meeting, General
Assembly Meeting, Saint-Malo, France, June 8, 2010. Oral presentation.
LeBlanc, N., Ståhl, K., Hakhverdyan, M., Belák, S.: ASFV subtyping array based on SNPs in the major capsid
protein, p72. Epizone European Network of Excellence, 4 th Annual Meeting, Theme 4 Diagnostics Meeting, SaintMalo, France, June 7, 2010, Oral presentation.
LeBlanc, N., Everett, H., Leijon, M., Jobs, M., Blomberg, J., Belák, S.: A combined TaqMan RT-PCR and
suspension microarray assay for the detection and species identification of pestiviruses is improved on an Epizone
Short Term Mission. Epizone European Network of Excellence, 4 th Annual Meeting, WP 4.2, Saint-Malo, France,
June 5-7, 2010, Poster.
Belák, S: Veterinary importance of sexually transmitted/transmissible viruses in mammals. Symposium “The
evolution of infectious agents in relation to sex – focus on sexually transmitted and transmissible diseases in
humans and in animals. Nobel meets Darwin.”. Alfred Nobel’s mansion, Björkborn, Karskoga, 21.23 October,
2010. Keynote lecture.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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