Understanding the catalytic and non-catalytic roles of the essential 3D protein in the FMDV replication complex

口蹄疫病毒是一种具有重大经济意义的家畜疾病。2001年英国爆发的流感给农业和旅游业造成了数十亿英镑的损失。这种疾病在世界许多地方流行（包括在与欧洲接壤的国家暴发），并在动物之间迅速传播。因此，尽管有贸易限制，英国再次爆发疫情是不可避免的。我们努力了解致病因子的生命周期；口蹄疫病毒。我们正在研究病毒在细胞内复制的策略，以便制造更多的病毒来传播感染。关键是病毒聚合酶。这种酶负责复制病毒遗传物质。这是这种病毒的一种独特功能——哺乳动物细胞不具备这种能力——因此可能是开发疾病控制新方法的关键。

Foot-and-mouth disease virus causes a livestock disease of great economic importance. The UK 2001 outbreak resulted in billions of pounds of losses to the agriculture and tourism industries. This disease is endemic in many parts of the world (including outbreaks in countries bordering Europe) and transmits between animals very rapidly. Therefore, despite trade restrictions, another UK outbreak is inevitable. We strive to understand the lifecycle of the disease-causing agent; foot-and-mouth disease virus. We are studying the strategies that the virus uses to replicate inside cells in order to make further viruses to spread infection. A key to this is the virus polymerase. This enzyme is responsible for making copies of the virus genetic material. This is a unique function of the virus - mammalian cells do not possess this ability - and therefore potentially key in the development of new approaches to disease control.