Viral spectrum and epidemiology of respiratory infections
- Development of technology platform of unknown virus identification and discovery of unknown respiratory viruses in respiratory samples;
- Development of multiplex assays for respiratory pathogens;
- Molecular evolution of new emerging respiratory viruses;
- Identification of biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment assessment and prediction of respiratory infections.
Objectives within the GABRIEL Network
Sustainable contribution to global development of virus discovery technology and discovery of new viruses, a key player that contributes to local emergency response to infectious diseases, provider of new concepts and tools of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment evaluation of major viral infectious diseases, and provider and collaborator of knowledge and skills to GABRIEL network partners.
Currently the main research projects of CML linked to GABRIEL involve viral spectrum and epidemiology of respiratory infections, in particular pneumonia in Chinese populations, development of technology of unknown virus identification and multiplex assays for respiratory pathogens. CML has provided training to scientists from Cambodia, Laos and Mongolia in the past two years. CML is undertaking the multicentric pneumonia project organized by GABRIEL network.
Current projects
- New emerging pathogen identification
- Viral pathogen spectrum and etiology of respiratory infections
- Viral pathogen surveillance in respiratory infections
- Epidemiology and diagnosis tool development of newly identified respiratory viruses
- Immunity and pathogenesis of enterovirus 71, an important agent causing hand, foot and mouth disease
Technological approaches
- Molecular tests, including PCR, real-time PCR and NASBA
- DNA and protein chips
- Monoclonal and polyclonal antibody
- Peptide library screening and epitope screening
- Recombinant protein expression and purification
- Virus isolation and culture
- Proteomics
- Genomics and sequencing
- Bioinformatics
- Animal experiments
Results
- First large scale comprehensive investigation on the etiology of adults with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in China
- First report on saffold cardiovirus 1-3 and bocavirus 3 detection in respiratory samples
- First detection of WU polyomavirus in gastroenteritis samples
- First identification of group C rhinovirus, saffold cardiovirus and bocavirus 3 infection in China, and identification several novel rhinovirus strains
- Etiological, epidemiological and genetic characterization of multiple viruses in pediatric and adult patients suffered from ARTIs in China, including human rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, parainfluenzaviruses, metapneumoviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, bocaviruses, and WU and KI polyomaviruses
- Development of novel and multiplex assays for respiratory viruses and typing assays based on epitope screening
- Critical targets by which EV71 evades host inateinnate immunity