DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Research Activity of the Department

Research at the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases does focus on the examination of the characteristics of different bacterium genera, virus families and the diseases caused by them. Research on the immunology of farm animals help the understanding the pathogenicity, prevention and the host-parasite relationship. The aim of the research at the department is development of new diagnostic protocols, specific protection, vaccines, introduction of new methods in the prevention, control and eradication on the basis of examination of cultural, morphological, serological and genetic characteristics of the pathogens.

Some research area of the department:

Bacteriology:

Characterisation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis strains from small ruminants.
Examination of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from different animal species, human beings and environmental samples.
Comparative examination of Actinobaculum suis strains isolated from swine.
Identification of Actinomyces hordeovulneris causing actinomycosis of dogs.
Examination of pasteurellosis of farm animals (Pasteurella /Mannheimia/ haemolytica, P. aerogenes, P. mairii).
Examination of actinobacillosis of different animal species (A. pleuropneumoniae, A. seminis, A. rossi).
Examination of haemophiloses (Haemophilus somnus/Histophilus somni, H. paragallinarum).
Examination of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale strains and the disease caused by them.
Comparative biochemical and serological examination of different Campylobacter-species (C. fetus subsp. venerealis, C. fetus subsp. fetus, C. jejuni/C. coli, C. lari).
Characterisation of Neisseria (Moraxella) ovis strains from sheep, description of the disease.
Identification and characterisation of Bacteroides ureolyticus strains from mares.

Virology:

Investigations on respiratory virus infections of ruminants and horses (Herpes-, Paramyxo-, Adenoviridae)
Examination of arthropod borne zoonotic viruses (Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae)
Investigations on zoonotic enteric viruses
Virus infections of the honeybee
Studies on poultry-pathogen viruses
Examination of the corona- and arterivirus infections of certain animal species
Development and application of molecular methods in the virology diagnostics

Immunology:

Development of nucleic acid based vaccines against several viral diseases.
Study of the induction of immune tolerance and specific immune response during foetal and mature animals by direct gene delivery.
Cloning, sequencing and practical trials of cytokines capable of regulating the Th1 and Th2 direction of the immune response.
Development of recombinant adenovirus vaccines.
Bacterial expression of genes encoding proteins responsible for protective immunity against viral diseases.
Development and production of diagnostics.
Study of autoimmune disorders of dogs and cats.
Study of the epidemiology of porcine circoviruses, and the immunological processes influencing the pathogenesis.