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SUMMARY:Bats and viruses: enemies or friends? - Professor Linfa Wang\, CSI
 RO\, Australian Animal Health Laboratories
DTSTART:20120404T093000Z
DTEND:20120404T103000Z
UID:TALK35710@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Suzy Blows
DESCRIPTION:Bats of many different species appear to live symbiotically wi
 th a range of viruses. In recent years it has become clear that some of th
 ese viruses (such as Ebola\, SARS\, Hendra and Nipah viruses) can pose a s
 ignificant risk to animals and humans when switching host from the bat to 
 another species. In order to manage this threat it is necessary to underst
 and the nature of the relationship between the bat and the virus\, what dr
 ives the “spill over” event\, and the disease that is likely in the 
 “new” host. This requires not only determining what particular viruses
  might reside in various bat populations\, but gaining insight into the im
 mune system of bats\, where the virus is found and what factors might alte
 r this apparent uneventful co-existence. The concept of “good virus” a
 nd the evolutionary advantage that viruses may have on bats will be explor
 ed in the context of virus-host co-evolution.  It is believed that a bette
 r understanding of virus-bat interaction may also lead to development of n
 ovel anti-viral strategies for use in livestock animals and humans.
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 1\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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