Role and contribution
UVE is a Virology Laboratory created in 1999 which has 16 members, among which 6 are directly involved in clinical microbiological laboratories as MDs or PharmDs. The main research themes of the unit are (1) emerging viral pathogens [with a special interest in arthropod- and rodent-borne human pathogens] and (2) functional genomics of RNA viruses including study of viral recombinant proteins. During the last 5 years the unit has characterised for the first time the full-length sequences of more than 25 RNA viruses, including severe human pathogens and bioterrorism agents (St. Louis encephalitis virus, Alkhurma virus, Kyasanur Forest disease virus, Guanarito virus...), and the virion structure of the emerging pathogen Banna virus. UVE is currently involved in research programmes dedicated to the genomics of dsRNA viruses (European programme ReoID) and arenaviruses (NIH programme "molecular detection of weaponized arenaviruses") and to the elaboration of antiviral molecules (French programmes "Identification, design and evaluation of antivirals against SARS coronavirus" and "Arenaviruses: genomics and antivirals"). UVE has access to BSL2 and 3 laboratories including animal facilities and close relationships with BSL4 laboratories in Lyon (UBIVE, France), Atlanta (CDC, USA) and Winnipeg (CSCHAH, Canada). In addition, UVE is, in association with UBIVE, the French National Reference Centre for the diagnosis of arboviral diseases and viral haemorrhagic fevers. Members of UVE have produced to date 200 published articles in refereed journals.
UVE Marseille, FR
