Main activities of the Virology Group
Most bio-relevant viruses belong almost exclusively to micro-organisms from Risk Groups 3 and 4. Currently, our laboratory is able to handle selected pathogens from Risk Groups (RG 1-3).
The planned construction and commissioning of the DDPS Safety Laboratory (SiLab DDPS) in 2010 means that the Virology Group will have the necessary resources and procedures at its disposal to work with and diagnose all potential bio-relevant RG4 viral pathogens.
In the meantime, the Virology Group will continue to handle viruses from the lower Risk Groups (RG 1-3), and will ensure that there are the necessary conditions in place to develop new methods and to establish existing methods.
Current activities
- Develop and establish new methods to detect RG 1-3 human pathogenic viruses with biological warfare agent/weapon potential.
- Enhance specialist knowledge of particular human pathogenic viruses with a biological warfare agent potential.
- Information on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of diseased caused by these viruses.
- Assessment of new (bio-terrorism) threats in the form of viral diseases.
- Assessment of the influence of new technologies on the development and production of biological weapons.
Future activities
Develop and establish new methods detect human pathogenic viruses from RG 4 (as of 2010) with a biological warfare agent/weapon potential.