Publications

recovery of the first full-length genome sequence of a parapoxvirus directly from a clinical sample.	we recovered the first full-length poxvirus genome, including the terminal hairpin region, directly from complex clinical material using a combination of second generation short read and third generation nanopore sequencing technologies. the complete viral genome sequence was directly recovered from a skin lesion of a grey seal thereby preventing sequence changes due to in vitro passaging of the virus. subsequent analysis of the proteins encoded by this virus identified genes specific for skin a ...	2017	28623312
sealpox virus in marine mammal rehabilitation facilities, north america, 2007-2009.	sealpox, a zoonotic disease affecting pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), can occur among captive and convalescing animals. we surveyed 1 worker each from 11 marine mammal centers and interviewed 31 other marine mammal workers to ascertain their knowledge of and experience with sealpox virus and to identify factors associated with sealpox virus outbreaks among pinnipeds in marine rehabilitation facilities. demographic and health data were obtained for 1,423 pinnipeds at the 11 facilities. among the ...	2011	22172454
isolation and partial characterization of a parapoxvirus isolated from a skin lesion of a weddell seal.	a solitary skin lesion was found on the neck of a weddell seal (leptonychotes weddellii), chemically immobilized in queen maud land (70 degrees 09's, 05 degrees 22'e) antarctica 2001. the lesion was elevated and 3cm in diameter, consisting of partly fresh and partly necrotic tissue, and proliferative papilloma-like structures were seen. electron microscopy on a biopsy from the lesion revealed typical parapoxvirus particles. polymerase chain reaction (pcr; b2l gene) generated amplicons of approxi ...	2005	15681058
human sealpox resulting from a seal bite: confirmation that sealpox virus is zoonotic.	the case of a marine mammal technician who sustained a seal-bite to the hand that produced a lesion clinically very similar to orf is described. sequence analysis of the viral dna amplified from the lesion by the polymerase chain reaction indicated that it was sealpox virus in origin. this is the first report providing unequivocal evidence that sealpox may be transmitted to humans and causes lesions very similar to orf.	2005	15840117
characterization of sealpox virus, a separate member of the parapoxviruses.	a disease outbreak characterized by lesions of the skin and mucosa of the oral cavity was recognized in harbor seals ( phoca vitulina) from the german north sea. using electron microscopy typical parapoxvirus particles were observed. the presence of parapoxvirus was confirmed by pcr and nucleotide sequencing of part of the putative major envelope protein coding gene. comparative sequence analysis revealed that the virus from seal is significantly different from the established parapoxvirus speci ...	2002	12111424
the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against orf virus with other parapoxviruses and the identification of a 39 kda immunodominant protein.	a panel of 27 mouse monoclonal antibodies (mabs) was raised against orf virus. sixteen of these mabs reacted with a protein with a molecular mass of 65 kda, 8 reacted with a protein with a molecular mass of 39 kda and three remain uncharacterised. reactivity of the mabs with a library of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing various regions of the nz-2 orf virus genome identified the approximate positions of the genes encoding these 2 immunodominant orf virus proteins. the gene encoding the 39 ...	1998	9930187