Bluetongue Diagnostics Course

Course Details

Date: 26th April - 7th May 2010

Duration: 2 weeks

Cost: £750 per week (total of £1500)

Accommodation: £15 per night (meals NOT included)

Course Co-ordinator: Chris Oura

Contact e-mail: pirbright.etraining@bbsrc.ac.uk

CLOSING DATE 21 FEBRUARY 2010

Topics to Be Covered in Course

VIRUS ISOLATION

• Passage of orbiviruses on cell culture (BHK-21, KC insect cells)
• Preparation of growth media for BHK-21, KC cells
• Preparation of maintenance media for BHK-21, KC cells

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Preparation of field and experimentally infected tissue samples for virus and virus antigen detection and identification
• Preparation of 96-well microtitre BHK-21and KC cell plates
• Titration of virus samples on 96-well plates
• Isolation of orbiviruses in embryonated hen eggs
• Serum Neutralisation test (SNT)
• Antibody detection ELISA
• Robotic RNA extraction
  
• Real-time RT-PCR
• Serotype-specific RT-PCR
• Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis

VECTOR IDENTIFICATION AND INFECTION

• Identification of Culicoides midges
• Intrathoracic inoculation of insects
• Membrane feeding insects
• Insects homogenisation

Lectures will be given by staff at Pirbright throughout the course on related subjects. Subjects will be covered by a mixture of lectures demonstrations and practicals.

The contents of the course may be amended according to the interests of the participants.