• Profile
• Areas of operation
• Projects
• Partners
• Publications

The unit develops diagnostic assays and prevention strategies for infectious diseases, in human and veterinary medicine. Major focus is on viral infections of livestock (e.g. pigs and horses) and zoonoses up to biosafety level 3. Marker-vaccines are developed which allow the differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA – strategy).

All state-of-the-art methodologies in virology, molecular biology and immunology are well established in the group. Viruses worked on in the lab include: West Nile Virus, Equine Arteritis Virus, PRRSV and Porcine Circovirus-2. In addition, the unit performs studies in large animals due to a close collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig.

The unit coordinates the EU collaborative project "WINGS: West Nile Integrated Shield Project: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Prevention of West Nile Virus in Europe".

• www.west-nile-shield-project.eu