Live cell imaging capability for research on pathogenic viruses

Viruses must infect living cells in order to multiply. Virus multiplication cycles take many hours, during which time they hijack cellular machinery and change the inner workings of the cell to favour their own growth. To better understand how these processes occur, it is important to study the events that occur in virus-infected cells throughout the complete multiplication cycle, and the requested IncuCyte instruments will allow us to do this. Additionally, when studying viruses that cause human or animal disease we need to work safely. At Leeds, we have just invested in state-of-the-art laboratories designed for safe work with pathogenic viruses, this is where the IncuCyte instruments will be located. As well as enabling us to better understand virus growth and effects on cells, the IncuCyte instruments will allow us to establish efficient screening programmes for the identification of new anti-viral drugs, with potential long-term benefits for patients.