Download Department for Respiratory Viruses

Department for Respiratory Viruses
Head of Department: Zoltán Kis, PhD
Personnel:
5 medical doctors/(micro)biologists
microbiologists: 1 person)
3 laboratory technicians
1 person for cleaning and preparation
(Ph.D.
graduates:
1
person;
medical
The Department for Respiratory Viruses operates the WHO National Influenza Reference
Laboratory and the National Reference Laboratories for Influenza and Respiratory
Viruses.
As a member of the European Influenza Surveillance Network (EISN), the Department for
Respiratory Viruses is responsible for laboratory monitoring of influenza viruses at national
level, and for the coordination of the influenza surveillance system in close collaboration with
the Department of Epidemiology.
1. The Department for Respiratory Viruses provides the laboratory background
for:
a. Multiplex real-time PCR and/or end-point PCR assays for the detection of
Influenza A/B and RSV. Subtyping is also achieved, H1N1 pandemic, H1N1,
H3N1, H3N2sotr, H5N1 and H5 clades such as 1., 7., 2.3.2.,2.3.4., 2.2. can be
detected.
b. Isolation of influenza viruses on cell culture. Several cell culture systems are
used for the isolation of influenza viruses such as MDCK, secondary monkey
kidney cells, VERO, chicken embryo fibroblast, LL-MCK2. For this purpose,
Department for Respiratory Viruses produces cell culture media and maintains
cell lines; furthermore provides these to the other departments at the NCE and
outer laboratories.
c. Isolation of Influenza viruses on embryonated chicken eggs
d. Identification of the isolates by HA and HI; propagation and purification and
concentration of the isolates by ultracentrifugation.
e. Inoculation into animals (roosters, guinea pigs) to produce hyperimmune sera.
2. Ensures the logistic background for
a. preparing materials required for sample collection (viral transport mediums
(VTM), plastic containers, cotton fiber-tipped swabs) and distribute these
materials to the sentinel general practitioners (GP)
b. maintaining close connection with the Epidemiology Department of NCE,
epidemiologists of the counties and the sentinel GPs.
c. giving sample taking instructions to sentinel GPs and epidemiologists.
d. operating the specimen transportation system via private shipping company.
3. Reports
a. Reports regularly to the NCE Epidemiology Department
b. Reports regularly (once a week) to the Tessy.
The Department for Respiratory Viruses carries out epidemiological-microbiological
diagnosis of regional influenza and other respiratory viruses for capital Budapest, JászNagykun-Szolnok county, Nógrád county and Pest county.
The Department for Respiratory Viruses provides laboratory background for nonepidemiological diagnostics:
1. From specimens arrived in VTM:
a. multiplex real-time PCR and/or end-point PCR assays are used for detection
of Influenza A/B (with subtyping), RSV, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus 1-4,
coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, human metapneumoviruses, bocaviruses.
b. isolation of respiratory viruses in cell cultures (MDCK, Hep-2, LL-MCK2,
primer and secondary monkey kidney cell, Vero, chicken fibroblast)
c. direct immunofluorescence assay for detection of influenza A/B, RSV,
adenovirus, parainfluenza virus.
2. From human sera:
a. indirect immunofluorescence assay of paired sera to detect antibody against
adenovirus, RSV, parainfluenza virus. The antigens for the assay are
produced by the Department itself.
b. haemagglutination inhibition assay (HI) and complement fixation reaction
(CFR) of influenza virus.
As WHO National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Department for Respiratory Viruses fulfils
the obligations and the top-laboratory functions of the National Influenza Reference
Laboratory such as participating in international programs, reporting to the WHO and ECDC,
maintaining the national influenza virus strain collection, etc.
The Department is responsible for distribution of Hungarian influenza vaccines, storage of
the reserved vaccines and organization of annihilation of the expired vaccines. Teaching
and training activities also belong to the task of the Department