Out of the horse’s mouth: A comparative virology approach

Monday, 8 June 2026, 1.30pm to 2.30pm

Humans share the highest number of viruses with pigs, cattle and horses. Furthermore, humans and horses respond similarly to many viral infections. This seminar will take a comparative virology approach to illustrate generalisable lessons that can be learned from studies of equine viral infections, with a focus on equine influenza. This includes research on vaccines and the impact of antigenic drift on efficacy and effectiveness, which has been explored by mathematical modelling. The factors involved in interspecies transmission will also be examined in the context of the influence of genetic drift of equine influenza on transmission to dogs.

Bio Sketch:
Janet Daly is a Professor of Viral Zoonoses at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science where she has worked since 2009. She also leads the cross-faculty ‘One Virology’ group and is Director of the Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research and Head of the Division of Global Health. She has worked with influenza A viruses for 35 years, hopping back and forth between veterinary and human applications while working at the Animal Health Trust, NIBSC and GSK. She also developed an interest in flaviviruses while at the University of Liverpool prior to joining Nottingham vet school. Her current interests remain focussed on zoonotic RNA viruses, but she also maintains a strong interest in equine virology since her time at the Animal Health Trust.

Term: Trinity, Week 7

Speaker(s): Professor Janet Daly (Professor of Viral Zoonoses at the University of Nottingham)

Department: Biology (Department)

Organiser: Sunetra Gupta

Host: Professor Sunetra Gupta