Abstract: The present invention provides a construct which, when expressed in a host cell, is capable of producing empty virus capsids, the construct comprising: (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a capsid precursor protein; (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protease capable of cleaving the capsid precursor protein; and (iii) a control element which controls the expression of the protease such that, when the construct is present in the host cell, the control element causes the protease to be expressed at a level sufficient to cleave the capsid precursor protein, but not sufficient to induce significant toxicity in the host cell. The invention also provides a vector and a host cell comprising such a construct and their use to generate empty virus capsids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimaeric coronavirus S protein which is based on an S protein from a coronavirus strain with restricted tissue tropism, but which comprises at least part of the S2 subunit from a coronavirus strain with extended tissue tropism, such that a virus comprising the chimaeric S protein has extended tissue tropism. The present invention also provides a virus comprising such a chimaeric S protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying an animal having a genotype associated with resistance to bacterial infection comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample from said mammal; (b) determining the alleles at one or more markers of the SAL1 locus to identify the genotype of the marker, wherein said SAL1 locus lies between 54.0 MB to 54.8 MB of chicken Chromosome 5 or an equivalent thereof; and (c) determining whether the genotype is a genotype associated with resistance to bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a herpes virus vector which comprises a modified genomic sequence encoding a microRNA (miRNA) against a target sequence. The herpes virus vector may be used as or in a vaccine to prevent and/or treat a disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine for use in the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis comprising an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent, characterized in that the attenuated IBV comprises a heterologous spike gene. Such a vaccine is based on IBV strain Beaudette that is able to express a spike gone derived from a different IBV strain. The vaccines provided by the present invention also allow the administration via the in ovo route.

Abstract: In a mastitis progression data memory 80 there is previously recorded data on the corresponding relationship between the state of progression of mastitis caused by bacteria and the trace light intensity chemically emitted by phagocytic leukocytes in milk when they phagocytose the bacteria, the trace light intensity chemically emitted by the phagocytic leukocytes in the milk is detected by a photodetector 41a, the state of progression of mastitis corresponding to the light intensity is diagnosed by an extractor/converter 13 with reference to the mastitis progression data memory 80 based on the detected trace light intensity, and the diagnosed state of progression of mastitis is outputted by output means 30. It is possible to conveniently and reliably diagnose the state of progression of mastitis from invasion of bacteria up to severe mastitis.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides A and B for diagnosis of foot and mouth disease (FMD), having the amino acid sequences of Sequence Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in Sequence Listing, and also antigens A and B for diagnosis of FMD each as bonded to a carrier. The peptides and antigens are usable for diagnosis of FMD in various FMD-infected animals, at high sensitivity and high specificity. Using these, rapid and easy diagnose of FMD is possible.

Abstract: A method of producing reverse transcriptase, which comprises isolating a fraction containing retrovirus from a tissue culture fluid supernatant of retrovirus producing cells which are able to grow and propagate in vitro, treating said fraction at least once by sucrose density gradient centrifugation to thereby obtain a purified retrovirus, and extracting reverse transcriptase from said purified retrovirus.