Department
Virology
The department has the responsibility for national surveillance, preparedness and response of a range of viral infections.
Main functions
The department has the responsibility for national surveillance, preparedness and response of a range of viral infections, and performs advanced surveillance analysis, virus characterisation, outbreak investigation, determination of resistance, measurement of immunity, diagnostics, vaccine follow-up investigations, research and development, and scientific advice.
Responsibilities
The Department of Virology is the national reference laboratory for the following viruses: influenza virus, coronavirus with severe outbreak potential (SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and SARS-1), RSV, measles and rubella virus, mumps, polio/enterovirus, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) virus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses. The department also performs laboratory surveillance related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination follow-up programme. The department is involved in international surveillance networks under the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The department has also been designated as a national reference laboratory by WHO for the eradication of wild poliovirus in the world. Similarly, the department is the WHO national reference laboratory for the eradication of measles and rubella viruses in the European region, and is the WHO's reference laboratory for influenza in Norway (WHO National Influenza Centre (NIC-Norway)). The laboratory is accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025.
Specific tasks
Our main task is national surveillance on a population level, but we also perform primary diagnostics and reference confirmatory tests for medical microbiology laboratories within our different reference functions. The department receives samples from medical microbiology laboratories and general practitioners in Norway, and performs a range of molecular analyses including whole genome sequencing, as well as cell culture-based analyses, and serological analyses. The department conducts research and analysis relating to the occurrence of infections, characterisation of virus variants, antiviral resistance, re-infection and vaccine surveillance. Furthermore, the department develops methods related to reference laboratory functions and preparedness with a focus on detection and in-depth analysis by whole genome sequencing. Maintenance of laboratory infrastructure is also part of the department's tasks
The department leads a comprehensive digitisation project, partly funded by EU4Health, to strengthen and streamline the Institute’s laboratory preparedness and surveillance activities with a focus on whole-genome sequencing. The project is a collaboration with the Department of Bacteriology.
Core competence
Our department has high expertise in virology, covering a broad spectrum of laboratory methods and genome analyses. We take part in various research projects and collaborations, both nationally and internationally, which focus on surveillance of viral infections, monitoring changes in virus variants over time, and exploring the relationship between viral genetic variation and vaccine effectiveness, pathogenicity, immunity and resistance to antiviral treatments.
Stakeholders
We serve the Ministry of Health and Care Services by producing, summarising and disseminating knowledge to support public health efforts and healthcare services in Norway. These responsibilities include national virus surveillance and international reporting of surveillance data to ECDC and WHO. We actively participate in various global and European surveillance networks, and engage in international pandemic preparedness efforts through the WHO and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework, international training exercises, webinars and workshops underlining our commitment to global health, disease preparedness and safety in the domain of virology and medical microbiology.
Our expertise extends from in-depth knowledge about viruses, to providing advice on test strategies, diagnostics and disseminating information through various channels such as our website, meetings and a range of guidelines and surveillance reports.
Additionally, we play a pivotal role in supporting the high quality of laboratory diagnostics in Norway by providing primary and reference diagnostics, and reference materials. The department is also a secretariat for several functions in medical microbiology, by hosting and organising networks, conferences and meetings in the field, as well as organising quality assurance panels in virology and serology that we produce for the laboratories. This contribution is important for maintaining excellence in laboratory diagnostics across the country.
Sections
The department is organised into 4 sections:
- Section for influenza and other respiratory viruses
- Section for viruses transmissible via blood, sex, food and water
- Section for MMR and virus infections in the nervous system
- Section for laboratory support and pre- and postanalytical functions
Section for influenza and other respiratory viruses
Led by Karoline Bragstad, PhD, Senior scientist
Responsibility
National responsibility for surveillance of and preparedness for influenza, RSV and coronavirus with serious outbreak potential. The section also has a reference function for these and is the national influenza centre for WHO in Norway (NIC-Norway).
Tasks
The section for influenza and other respiratory viruses holds three national reference functions in medical microbiology, influenza, RSV and coronaviruses with serious outbreak potential (for example SARS-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS), and is responsible for national virological surveillance, advice and preparedness related to this. The section carries out integrated surveillance of these respiratory infections in a global context through WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) by being the national influenza center for WHO in Norway (NIC-Norway) and in Europe through ECDC EISN, ERLI-Net and ECOVID-Net and makes use of a wide range of methods both within molecular biology and conventional virology including serology/immunology.
A large part of the work in the section is currently based on in-depth analyses of viruses to monitor genetic changes for increased understanding of the viruses, disease, and outbreaks. An important task is to investigate how the influenza and coronavirus vaccines fit with circulating viruses and how immunity to these viruses changes in the population over time. The section reports weekly virological surveillance data nationally and internationally to ECDC and WHO and is actively involved in international and national surveillance work and collaborates closely with others in the field of epidemiological surveillance, modeling and preparedness.
The section operates the national sentinel surveillance system of respiratory viruses in primary heath care in Norway and the national seroepidemiology surveillance project investigating population immunity to influenza and SARS-CoV-2
Expertise
The section has extensive expertise in respiratory viruses, virological surveillance and pandemic preparedness, in addition to being strong in molecular biology and immunological methods. In addition to human virology, the section is also competent within zoonotic influenza, such as avian and swine influenza.
Research/major projects
The section has self-initiated research mainly related to virus properties, immunity and surveillance, but also participates in EU Joint Actions on surveillance, and is part of the ECDC AURORA network for laboratory support in the EU for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The section runs the national seroepidemiology survey of residual sera in Norway, which is used to investigate population immunity over time against influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Section for viruses transmissible via blood, sex, food and water
Led by Kathrine Stene-Johansen, PhD, Senior scientist
Responsibility
The section holds two national reference functions in medical microbiology; rotavirus and hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D and E), and is responsible for the virological surveillance of HPV types in the national childhood immunisation programme in Norway.
Tasks
- Virological surveillance of HPV is carried out by genotyping collected biological material from age cohorts of young men and women.
- Diagnostics and virological surveillance of rotavirus in the follow-up of the rotavirus vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme.
- Within the reference function for the hepatitis viruses, analyses are primarily offered for the detection of HAV, HBV, HDV and HEV, as well as characterisation of genotypes and antiviral resistance for follow-up and treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C infections. Surveillance of HAV is also carried out for outbreak detection and investigation, as well as surveillance of antiviral resistance for HBV and HCV.
Expertise
The section has high expertise in virology, diagnostics and method development and is carrying out both serological and a range of molecular assays, including Luminex technology, PCR, Sanger sequencing, whole genome sequencing, as well as interpretation and analysis of laboratory results including bioinformatics.
Research/major projects
The section is involved in research that supports the reference functions in medical microbiology and the institute's core activities by studying the occurrence of infections, virus variants, mutations and resistance in connection with surveillance, special case studies and clinical studies related to the treatment of chronic hepatitis infections. Furthermore, research is carried out to study the effect of the vaccine, as well as research in the HPV field in collaboration with the Cancer Registry on biomarkers for disease progression.
Section for MMR and viral infections in the nervous system
Led by Aina Fossum Moen, PhD, Seniorforsker
Responsibility
The section holds three national reference functions in medical microbiology; MMR, TBE and polio/enterovirus. The section focuses on surveillance and research related to the viruses that cause MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), TBE (Tick-borne encephalitis) and polio and enteroviruses. We have a key role in surveying the spread and in performing genomic charaterisation of these viruses. The polio laboratory in the section is part of the Global Polio Laboratory Network and accreditated as the Norwegian reference laboratory by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the eradication of wild poliovirus in the world. Similarly, the department is the Norwegian reference laboratory under the WHO for the eradication of measles and rubella viruses in the European region.
Tasks
- Surveillance and outbreaks investigation of MMR, TBE and enteroviruses including characterisation of enteroviruses from children under 15 years of age with acute flaccid paralysis
- Diagnostics of TBE cases, and mapping the spread of TBE virus in ticks collected all around Norway
Expertise
Our section is specialised in MMR, TBE, and Polio/enterovirus. Our expertise includes advanced diagnostics, surveillance of viruses, development of methodology and contribution to outbreak investigation.
Research/major projects
Our section is engaged in an extensive research activity on the TBE (Tick-borne encephalitis) virus. We lead and participate in several projects in collaboration with Nordic countries to map TBEV prevalence in ticks in Norway and across national borders, with a view to vaccination. The section collaborates with the research ENPEN (European non-polio-enterovirus) network.
Section for laboratory support and pre- and post-analytical functions
Led by Mythili Manoharan, BSc
Responsibility
The section is responsible for pre-and postanalytical functions, order management, as well as support and maintenance of critical laboratory infrastructure.
Tasks
- Reception and registration of biological sample materials and submission of laboratory analysis reports to requesters
- Management of laboratory reagents and disposables logistics
Expertise
The section holds expertise in sample handling, logistics and Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS)
Research/major projects
The section is engaged in digitalisation projects with a main focus on electronic communication with analysis requesters through LIMS
