Partner 1:

The National Veterinary Institute (NVI), Uppsala, Sweden

Current expertise:
       The NVI will provide expertise in EU project management and the co-ordinator for the project. The Institute will also contribute expertise in advanced methodologies for the detection of viral nucleic acids and the application of fluorimeter-based hydrolysis probes to real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) diagnostics. The NVI is the main, national institute of Sweden for diagnosis and study the infectious diseases of farm animals and wildlife. Here is the national reference laboratory for the diagnosis and control of classical swine fever virus (CSFV).
       At present, NVI employs some 400 staff; the Virology Department is the largest unit with about 50 employees. The head of the Department is Prof. B. Klingeborn. Deputy head and head of Research is Prof. S. Belák. The Department provides routine diagnostic service on virus isolation, PCR and antibody diagnosis (virus neutralisation tests) of economically important viruses of farm animals, pets and laboratory animals. The Department performs routine diagnosis on an average of 100 000 samples per year. The Section of Research and Development has two main activities. The diagnostic group is performing routine diagnosis (PCR, direct sequencing of PCR products, molecular epizootiology) on an average of 2000 samples per year. In addition, the group is developing new assays of molecular diagnosis. The research group is performing applied and basic research to study the genetic background of viral phylogeny and pathogenesis. The main research areas are molecular characterization of equine arteritis virus (EAV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), feline coronaviruses, porcine and equine herpesviruses.

Project leader:
Sándor Belák, Prof., DVM, Ph.D., D.Sc., Principle Scientific Officer, Project co-ordinator

Participating in the project:
Dr. Mikhayil Hakhverdyan, Ph.D., Biologist, Senior Scientific Officer
Attila Farsang, Molecular Biologist, Assistant Scientific Officer
Dr. Peter Thorén, Ph.D., Molecular Biologist, Advisor
Prof. Berndt Klingeborn, DVM, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Virology, Advisor
Madeleine Johansson, Secretary

Address:
National Veterinary Institute
Department of Virology
Ulls väg 2B
SE-751 89 Uppsala
SWEDEN
Tel.: +46 18 67 4135
Fax: +46 18 674467, +46 18 674669
E-mail: sandor.belak@sva.se
Web-site: http://www.sva.se

The National Veterinary Institute, Kontrast Photo, Ljungby