Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sampling device for the collection and isolation of a biological specimen from a sample or from a location. The sampling device comprises a swab tip and a support body wherein the support body has a hollow conformation with a first end and a second end and wherein said first end is in fluid connection with the internal surface of the swab tip. Typical for the present sampling device is that the swab tip comprises a filter material with a pore size that decreases from the external surface of the swab tip to the internal surface of the swab tip. The invention further also discloses the use of said sampling device and a method for the collection and isolation of a biological specimen.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining the effect of a viral inactivation procedure on the antigenicity of the inactivated virus, in particular, for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular, for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). The invention further provides methods to determine the antigenicity of an inactivated virus as well as methods to screen for anti-viral compounds using any one of the aforementioned methods. Methods of using the inactivated and immunogenic virus thus obtained, in particular, in the manufacture of a vaccine, are also provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interferon in the in vitro cultivation of animal circular ssDNA virus such as Porcine Circovirus 2 or human TT virus in an animal cell line. Increased titres of animal circular ssDNA virus are obtained by addition of interferons or agents which ensure the production of endogenous interferons by said cell line and/or by the reduction of endosomal-lysosomal system acidification.

Abstract: Described are methods for determining the permissiveness of a cell for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular, for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). Further described are methods and compositions related to the generation of host cells permissive for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular, for PRRSV. Methods of utilzing the cells thus identified or thus generated, in preparing a culture of a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, as well as the use of the virus for the purpose of vaccine production or diagnosis, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interferon in the in vitro cultivation of animal circular ssDNA virus such as Porcine Circovirus 2 or human TT virus in an animal cell line. Increased titres of animal circular ssDNA virus are obtained by addition of interferons or agents which ensure the production of endogenous interferons by said cell line and/or by the reduction of endosomal-lysosomal system acidification.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining the permissiveness of a cell for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). The invention further provides methods and compositions related to the generation of host cells permissive for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). Methods of using said cells thus identified or thus generated, in preparing a culture of a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, as well as the use of said virus for the purpose of vaccine production or diagnosis, are also provide by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology, and relates to the identification and characterization of the targets involved in the evasion strategy of viruses and to the use thereof in methods to identify anti-viral compounds. More in particular to identify compounds which are modulators of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a target within said entry and immune-evasion strategy.

Abstract: Methods of delivering a cargo moiety to a cell is provided according to embodiments of the invention which includes contacting a cell expressing sialoadhesin with a conjugate including a sialoadhesin binding moiety and a cargo moiety. The sialoadhesin binding moiety binds to the sialoadhesin expressed by the cell and is internalized along with the cargo, delivering the cargo moiety to the cell. Particular methods provided by the invention include induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression in a cell which naturally produces little or no sialoadhesin. Induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression includes transfection of a sialoadhesin expression construct and/or administration of an agent effective to induce or enhance sialoadhesin expression. Methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response in a subject are detailed. Particular methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response to a virus are provided by the invention.

Abstract: Methods of delivering a cargo moiety to a cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes contacting a cell expressing sialoadhesin with a conjugate including a sialoadhesin binding moiety and a cargo moiety. The sialoadhesin binding moiety binds to the sialoadhesin expressed by the cell and is internalized along with the cargo, delivering the cargo moiety to the cell. Particular methods provided by the present invention include induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression in a cell which naturally produces little or no sialoadhesin. Induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression includes transfection of a sialoadhesin expression construct and/or administration of an agent effective to induce or enhance sialoadhesin expression. Methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response in a subject are detailed. Particular methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response to a virus are provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology, and relates to the identification and characterization of the targets involved in the evasion strategy of viruses and to the use thereof in methods to identify anti-viral compounds. More in particular to identify compounds which are modulators of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a target within said entry and immune-evasion strategy.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining the effect of a viral inactivation procedure on the antigenicity of the inactivated virus. In particular for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). The invention further provides methods to determine the antigenicity of an inactivated virus as well as methods to screen for anti-viral compounds using any one of the aforementioned methods Methods of using the inactivated and immunogenic virus thus obtained, in particular in the manufacture of a vaccine are also provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide involved in cellular entrance of PRRSV, to a recombinant vector comprising said polynucleotide, to a cell capable of expressing said polypeptide, a method of producing said polypeptide as well as to cell culture and to a novel method of producing the PRRSV virus. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying compounds that affect the PRRSV receptor function of the polypeptide as well as to the use of the polypeptide or identified compounds in the manufacture of medicaments. The present inventors have succeeded in isolating a protein from PAM membranes that seems to play a crucial role in virus entry into the cell. The elucidated nucleotide sequence encoding the protein, as well as the amino acid sequence of the protein, were compared with sequences stored in sequence databases.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to in vitro models for viral latency. In particular to latently infected cultures of primary and continuous cell lines, and to the use thereof in methods to identify anti-viral compounds. More in particular to identify compounds which are either able to modulate the induction of viral latency in the aforementioned cell cultures, or which are able to retain the viruses in the aforementioned cells in their latent form. Other aspects of the invention are directed to antiviral compounds identified using the models and methods of the present invention, as well as to the use thereof in treating latent infections such as for example latent Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosis, treatment and prevention of porcine circoviral infection in mammals, in particular of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Methods of using a nucleic acid(s) and/or a protein(s), which are immunogenic in said mammal, and antibodies immunospecific for said protein(s), to treat, diagnose and/or prevent said porcine circoviral infection, are provided for by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interferon in the in vitro cultivation of animal circular ssDNA virus such as Porcine Circovirus 2 or human TT virus in an animal cell line. Increased titres of animal circular ssDNA virus are obtained by addition of interferons or agents which ensure the production of endogenous interferons by said cell line and/or by the reduction of endosomal-lysosomal system acidification.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining the permissiveness of a cell for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). The invention further provides methods and compositions related to the generation of host cells permissive for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). Methods of using said cells thus identified or thus generated, in preparing a culture of a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, as well as the use of said virus for the purpose of vaccine production or diagnosis, are also provide by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interferon in the in vitro cultivation of animal circular ssDNA virus such as Porcine Circovirus 2 or human TT virus in an animal cell line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interferon in the in vitro cultivation of animal circular ssDNA virus such as Porcine Circovirus 2 or human TT virus in an animal cell line. Increased titres of animal circular ssDNA virus are obtained by addition of interferons or agents which ensure the production of endogenous interferons by said cell line and/or by the reduction of endosomal-lysosomal system acidification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide involved in cellular entrance of PRRSV, to a recombinant vector comprising said polynucleotide, to a cell capable of expressing said polypeptide, a method of producing said polypeptide as well as to cell culture and to a novel method of producing the PRRSV virus. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying compounds that affect the PRRSV receptor function of the polypeptide as well as to the use of the polypeptide or identified compounds in the manufacture of medicaments. The present inventors have succeeded in isolating a protein from PAM membranes that seems to play a crucial role in virus entry into the cell. The elucidated nucleotide sequence encoding the protein, as well as the amino acid sequence of the protein, were compared with sequences stored in sequence databases.

Abstract: Methods of delivering a cargo moiety to a cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes contacting a cell expressing sialoadhesin with a conjugate including a sialoadhesin binding moiety and a cargo moiety. The sialoadhesin binding moiety binds to the sialoadhesin expressed by the cell and is internalized along with the cargo, delivering the cargo moiety to the cell. Particular methods provided by the present invention include induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression in a cell which naturally produces little or no sialoadhesin. Induction or enhancement of sialoadhesin expression includes transfection of a sialoadhesin expression construct and/or administration of an agent effective to induce or enhance sialoadhesin expression. Methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response in a subject are detailed. Particular methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response to a virus are provided by the present invention.