Role and contribution
The Virus Ecology Laboratory works in two closely collaborating governmental research institutes (Institute of Zoology and Institute of Virology) of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. It has 12 members including 3 PhD students. The head is M. Labuda, with his main scientific interest in tick-borne encephalitis virus and tick salivary factors helping in virus transmission. M. Kazimirova works on pharmacologically active substances in blood feeding arthropods, V. Taragelova, K. Hanincova and J. Koci are involved in TBEV and B. burgdorferi studies. E. Eleckova is involved in virus diagnostics. S. Havlikova is a molecular biologist starting her research in the group. Boris Klempa, a post-doctoral fellow, is a key player in the sequencing of hantaviruses. The other members of the team (M. Labuda, E. Eleckova et al.) will support the field work leading to the new isolates of hantaviruses, preferentially focusing on the novel rodent hosts. The Laboratory has standard equipment for virology work, such as laminar hoods for infectious and sterile work, CO2 incubators, thermal cyclers, equipment for electrophoresis, centrifuges, etc.
SAS Bratislava, SK
