0
Parallel lives: A research career matching the evolution of the PRRSV
Dr. Nauwynck is passionate about the investigation of the PRRSV evolution. He is happy to be one of the few virologists that have had the opportunity to start their career in PRRSV research as the virus became a significant pathogen in swine industry. He was happy to find the money to study the molecular pathogenesis of PRRS. After more than 30 years of following PRRSV, he is able to understand the virus’ impressive ability to adapt to infect different populations of macrophages and, in doing so, change the virological and clinical outcome and influence the host to adapt its immune response.
Key research gaps: Unanswered questions for PRRSV immunology
For Dr. Nauwynck, the most important unanswered PRRSV research questions are all related to determining the host’s immunological response capable of "switching off the virus" (Image 1). He is somewhat disappointed in the veterinary immunology community for not already answering this question because, even though it is not an easy, it is a very straight forward question that could have already been solved. He challenges his good friend, Dr. Andrea Ladinig, to tackle the question since he believes that she has the necessary insights and skills. He highlighted that Dr. Ladinig’s previous research gave some valuable insights into how the immune system responds at the level of the placental endometrium. He believes a better understanding of this mechanism could ultimately provide some key answers for this gap in our knowledge.
His vision for the future of diagnostics
His laboratory is currently working on reshaping veterinary diagnostics. At present, diseases are not caused by single pathogens but by a complex of pathogens. Their idea is to go away from individual PCRs, since he believes information from a single PCR is not of value on its own. For instance, being positive for PRRSV or PCV2 has limited value as a diagnostic tool for field veterinarians. He gives the example of PRRSV Type I within the European context and the “PRRS PLUS” disease scenario where PRRSV together with a complex of secondary pathogens are causing disease complexes. In order to have a full view of the complex, he believes that we need to run the samples for multiple PCRs simultaneously in order to characterize the clinical situation properly. However, multiplex PCRs have currently also some shortcomings (no match with the primers due to mutations, lack of detection of a long list of pathogens, …).
His laboratory recently developed a full diagnostic platform (PathoSense). It is based on (i) an app on your smartphone, with which you can upload the farm and disease information, (ii) a patented sampler for the separate collection of viruses and bacteria with a barcode that can be uploaded with your smartphone and (iii) a 3rd generation sequencing system. Within 24 hours, all viruses and bacteria in the sample become identified and will be sent to you via the app. With an upgrade, the veterinarian can receive additionally full genome sequences (with information on virulence factors and antibiotic resistance) on a website. He believes that providing this information to veterinarians in the field will facilitate a more effective approach to disease management. He is extremely excited about this development that will drive the upcoming "revolution in diagnostics".
Finally, Dr Nauwynck noted that the COVID-19 crisis has provided the opportunity for this technology to be implemented not only in veterinary medicine, but also in human medicine. A rapid diagnostic test would allow medical professionals to determine if a person showing respiratory symptoms was actually infected with SARS CoV-2 or another pathogen before sending them to a hospital where the risk of becoming truly infected with the SARS CoV2 is extremely high. In addition, co-infections with bacteria will be clarified and appropriate treatments can be started. This technology, therefore, has the potential to become an extremely important tool to control SARS CoV-2 and associated diseases. Such great timing to implement this valuable technology that will help to save more lives! Thanks Dr. Nauwynck for your vision and drive!
