University of Surrey
The School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Surrey combines experts from a number of fields to focus on multidisciplinary research. The School has some 80 permanent academic staff of whom 20 are assigned to the Molecular Microbiology division.
Within this division the Virology group has 4 staff members, 16 PhD students and one technician. The group is headed by Dr Carter and specialises in the molecular biology and diagnosis of enteric viruses in clinical samples (product DAKO astrovirus IDEIA), and the detection of these viruses in, food, water and the environment. Recently Dr Carter has patented a genetically modified cell line that currently provides the only system capable of detecting infectious Norovirus. In addition the group carries out fundamental research in molecular virology and has interests in viruses of humans, fish and insects including vaccine development. These interests are complemented by the wider (mainly bacteriological) interests of the division which also include an analysis of micro-organism survival in the environment and protective effects of environmental protists as well as, biotechnology, bioinformatics/systems biology and genomics. The laboratories have recently been refurbished with some £17m having been invested in the School as a whole over the last 8 years and now provide all modern facilities for molecular virology and including a Level 3 containment laboratory.
Five recent Publications:
- Al-Molawi N, Beardmore, VA, Carter MJ, Kass GEN and Roberts LO. Caspase mediated cleavage of the feline calicivirus capsid protein. J Gen Virol 84: 1237-1244 (2003)
- Laverick MA, Wyn-Jones AP and Carter, MJ. Quantitative RT-PCR for the enumeration of noroviruses (Norwalk-like viruses) in water and sewage. Letters in Applied Microbiology 39: 127-136 (2004)
- Carter MJ and Willcocks MM. (2005) Human enteric RNA viruses: Astroviruses. In: Topley and Wilsons Virology. Mahy BWJM and ter Meulen V Eds. Hodder Arnold Publishers, London (pp888-910)
- Schnerr H., Knight A., Patel P., Carter M., Adams M., Wyn-Jones A.P, 2005, Norovirus in food and water: Isolation and quantification, in: Rapid methods for biological and chemical contaminants in food and feed, Edited by van Amerongen A., Barug D., Lauwaars M. (ISBN 9076998531): 135-150
- Carter MJ (2005) Enterically infecting viruses: pathogenicity, transmission and significance for food and waterborne infection. J. Appl Microbiol 98: 1354-1380
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