2023 news from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases. 2023 Winter lecture, World AMR Awareness Week and a trip to Brussels November was a very busy month for Edinburgh Infectious Diseases with three big events occuring in close proximity to one another: the annual Winter Lecture, World AMR Awareness Week and the UK Mission to the EU One Health Fair in Brussels. Research focus: from a digital one health framework to covid infections in cats A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Kenyan Policy Fellows shine light on Silent Pandemic through powerful documentary November 2023: Kenyan Policy fellows, Evelyn Wesangula and Romona Ndanyi, collaborated on a documentary that explores the complexities of AMR in Kenya, aiming to captivate the attention of both policymakers and the general public. £3.3m award supports research into tackling bird flu Next phase of UK collaboration builds on discoveries around disease immunity, transmission and evolution. Summer school focuses on infectious disease research International initiative helps early career scientists develop their skills in studying infectious diseases. Research focus: from immune responses in fruit flies to chickens resistant to avian influenza A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Gene-edited chickens take significant step in fight against bird flu Scientists have used gene editing techniques to identify and change parts of chicken DNA that could limit the spread of the bird flu virus in the animals. Taking malaria research to rural primary schools around Scotland Researchers from Professor Sarah Reece's lab in the School of Biological Sciences are engaging with teachers and pupils across Scotland to talk about mosquitos, malaria parasites and body clocks. Research focus: analysis of COVID-19 hospitalisations to infections associated with wildlife A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Prof Amy Buck is honoured with the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal The Max Planck-Humboldt medal 2023 has been awarded to Amy Buck, Professor of RNA and Infection Biology, for her research into inter-species communication via RNA. The medal will be presented this November in Berlin. Test could transform care for costly cattle disease Efforts to develop a field-side test for animal trypanosomiasis could transform management of the common, costly infection in smallholder farms. Pig gene is critical for African Swine Fever infection Lab study pinpoints immunity-linked gene in pigs that is required for African Swine Fever virus to replicate. TB vaccine protects calves in first weeks of life Inoculation within the first month of life is effective, offering greater scope for protecting calves against disease. Moredun awarded grant to develop new vaccines for bovine respiratory disease Moredun Research Institute (MRI), in collaboration with French animal health company Ceva Sante Animale (Ceva), have been awarded £900,000 (80% funded) to develop new vaccines that target the viruses and bacteria responsible for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). App offers fast method of tracing infectious diseases Pilot study shows a novel contact tracing app could help protect groups at risk of catching and spreading infectious diseases in the Global South. Parasites of viruses drive superbug evolution Newly discovered mechanism enables bacteria to rapidly evolve, and could inform phage therapy. Rapid infection test could curb antibiotic resistance Novel system speeds diagnosis of bacterial infections in dogs, enabling effective choice of treatment. Covid risk study pinpoints ethnic inequalities Scotland’s White Gypsy/Traveller ethnic minority group were at greater risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation or death than the majority of the population, research reveals. Malawi's Alumni Fleming Fund Fellows visit Edinburgh University of Edinburgh hosts Alumni Fleming Fund Fellows from Malawi, accompanied by Dr. Collins Mitambo, Head of Research at the Ministry of Health. Research focus: from eye infection to future pandemic preparedness Publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network in the past month. £46.3 million funding boost to shine light on dark genome Scientists at the University of Edinburgh will receive £46.3 million from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to support ongoing activity at the MRC Human Genetics Unit. Genetic material linked to dairy calf development Molecular material associated with growth, fertility, and infection risk in dairy calves could serve as indicator of productivity in cows. Key gene blocks spillover of avian flu to humans Newly identified gene shown to prevent most strains of bird flu from causing infection in humans. Deer reveal nature’s secrets across half a century A 50-year study of red deer on a remote Scottish island is providing new insights into evolution in action and the impact of climate change in the natural world. Research focus: from chicken vaccines to the global response to AMR Explore the noteworthy publications from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases in the past month. 12th Annual Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Symposium Details about the programme, Ker Memorial Speaker and Prize Winner, and voting arrangements for the poster sessions for this year's Annual Symposium Unraveling cattle immunity: the role of epigenetic markers Unveiling cattle immune system diversity and disease resistance potential through DNA chemical markers Verity Hill awarded 2023 Ker Memorial Prize in Infectious Diseases We are delighted to announce that Dr Verity Hill, from Prof Andrew Rambaut's lab in the School of Biological Sciences, is the winner of this year's prize for her work on Ebola and SARS-CoV-2. Congratulations to the nominees for the Ker Memorial Prize 2023 The Ker Memorial Prize is awarded annually for the best PhD thesis in infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Lisa Boden appointed new Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies A leading specialist in veterinary public health and population medicine has been appointed as the new Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Research focus: From Influenza to plant pathogens and global health A compilation of notable publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Method offers boost to safety profile of live vaccines Weakening virus by amending genetic code promises route to large-scale production of live vaccines. Successful symposium on AMR in Livestock Production in a One Health Context The OECD-CRP Symposium on AMR in Livestock Production in a One Health Context was held in Edinburgh on 22-24 May 2023. Research focus: April 2023 - from Avian flu to equitable global health A digest of the publication highlights from across the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Hands on with infection biology at the Edinburgh Science Festival The Edinburgh Science Festival ran a vibrant programme of activities for all ages at the National Museum of Scotland during the Easter break in April 2023. Congratulations to the new Chancellor's Fellows in the College of Science and Engineering A group of outstanding early career researchers have been awarded one of the University of Edinburgh’s most prestigious fellowships. Fellowships recognise leading research talent at the Roslin Institute Prestigious awards from University and BBSRC nurture outstanding scientists and pioneering projects. Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholars visit Edinburgh The group of 24 students were in Edinburgh as part of a study tour to learn about "Science: Study, Research and Life. A comparison of the systems in Germany and Great Britain ". Long-term approach on bird flu is best, study finds Lasting conservation measures targeted at most vulnerable species are recommended in a report for the Scottish Government. Research Focus: From fruit fly survival to imaging immune cells We explore publication highlights from across Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, March 2023. Study provides insights into child hepatitis outbreak A common virus, alongside an underlying genetic predisposition, is likely to have played a key role in the recent worldwide outbreak of acute hepatitis in children. Scottish communities to use Minecraft to learn about disease spread A video-game based model of infectious disease spread will form the basis of a pilot public engagement project that aims to engage Scottish communities with public health research data. Global health research needs gravity shift to deliver impact A successful Africa-led global health research programme, contributing to World Health Organisation (WHO) policy development, has shared the key to its success and is calling for a shift in the centre of gravity of health research, designed to benefit developing countries. Covid-19 vaccine not linked with period disruption, study finds Covid-19 vaccination does not cause concerning changes to periods, research has found. Fossil site is ‘Rosetta Stone’ for understanding early life Leading edge technology has uncovered secrets about a world-renowned fossil hoard that could offer vital clues about early life on earth. University commits fund for African partnerships A multi-year commitment to explore innovative educational opportunities for African students and build research partnerships across the African continent has been announced by the University of Edinburgh. Whether born naturally or via cesarean section, babies receive essential microbes from their mothers Do cesarean-born babies miss out on essential microbes? New evidence suggests that the answer may be “no.” Covid rule fines peaked in latter stages of lockdown, study finds Most fines for Covid rule breaches were issued when England was in its third national lockdown and Wales was in its second, research shows. Multi-species study aids understanding of bird flu Response to infection in birds from chickens to crows points to biological factors linked to disease resistance. Research focus: from apes to organoids We explore publication highlights from across Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, Feb 2023. Common cold may have helped curb Africa’s Covid-19 death toll The higher prevalence of common cold viruses in Africa may have helped the continent experience relatively lower death rates from Covid-19, a study of people in Zimbabwe suggests. Covid-19: Targeting sugar-binding proteins and immunity in cancer patients Recent Covid-19 clinical trial results from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Covid-19 vaccine scientists win prestigious prize Two scientists who made important contributions to the development of Covid-19 vaccines have received a prestigious award from the University of Edinburgh. This article was published on 2024-09-26