Viral diseases remain a major threat to public health and the economy of both developed and developing countries. The worldwide AIDS pandemic is but one example of a newly emerged virus disease, other potential threats come from Ebola, Nipah and Hantaan viruses. Older, more established, human viruses such as influenza, measles, hepatitis and the common cold still cause major health problems.
Research within the Molecular Virology Unit is concerned with further understanding how viruses cause disease at the molecular level and in using the information gained from such studies for medical purposes. Research themes include:
RNA viruses, including Picornaviruses (e.g. Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus), paramyxoviruses (e.g. mumps, measles and parainfluenza viruses) and Bunyawera viruses (MDR, RER, RME).
- Structural Virology (GLT, RER, RME)
- Emerging RNA viruses (RME, RER, MDR)
- Viruses, immunity, and vaccine design (RER, RME)
- Virus persistence (MDR, RER)
- Papilloma viruses and human cancers (CSH)
- Recombinant viruses as treatments for cancer (RI)
- The isolation of novel anti-viral drugs (RER, MDR, GLT, GK)
">Molecular and Structural Virology