Cellular and Molecular

Andrew Davidson, Darryl Hill and David Matthews et al.

The work: Cell biology and virology of Live SARS-CoV-2, including; viral genetics, mutations, neutralization, diagnostics, detection, and infection pathogenesis, as well as the calibration of antibodies, drugs, and the generation of lower pathogenicity viruses for drug testing. All work is carried out in a high level containment lab. In December 2019, this lab was the only one in the UK researching coronaviruses.

Links: Public Health England

Funding: EBI Rapid Response, DARO funding for essential equipment, BBSRC, MRC

In news and features:

UK genome analysis has important implications for COVID-19 clinical trials

Characterisation of the transcriptome and proteome of SARS-CoV-2 using direct RNA sequencing and tandem mass spectrometry reveals evidence for a cell passage induced in-frame deletion in the spike glycoprotein that removes the furin-like cleavage site

Bristol scientists studying coronavirus to understand the virus

Bristol University scientists have made discovery which could help find Covid-19 vaccine

Coronavirus mutation disrupts vaccine trials

Discovery of a druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could stop virus in its tracks