Equine viruses

Abstract

Romain Paillot, dEPHE, PhD, HDR. Dr. Paillot’s main research looks at equine immunity and equine respiratory pathogens (EIV, EHV, and streptococci). His work aims to improve our understanding of immunity induced by pathogens during infection and by vaccination. His research also seeks to elucidate specific mechanisms used by pathogens to evade or deregulate the equine immune response (primarily streptococcal superantigens). Dr. Paillot is strongly involved with veterinary vaccine manufacturers in the evaluation of equine influenza vaccines. Dr. Paillot’s research career began in 1995 in the field of transplantation immunology. He studied the immunosuppressive drug methotrexate and described a new mechanism of action. From 1998 to 2004, he worked in the discovery research department for a veterinary vaccine manufacturer to develop new immunological assays in several veterinary species. In 2004, he moved to the Animal Health Trust (AHT, United Kingdom) to start a PhD on cell-mediated immunity induced by EIV and EHV-1. He held the position of Immunology Team Leader in the department of infectious diseases at the AHT from 2007 to 2012. His work focused on immunity and protection induced by several modern equine vaccines, and he was strongly involved with all European veterinary vaccine manufacturers for the evaluation, characterization, and/or registration of equine influenza vaccines and other equine pathogens. In 2013, he developed a collaborative research program between the U2RM unit of the University of Caen Basse-Normandie, the Frank Duncombe Laboratory, and the AHT in order to investigate poor response in the field to equine influenza vaccination (Chair of Excellence, Equine Immunology). In 2016, he was awarded a French Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR, Higher Doctorate D.Sc/Habilitation equivalent) from Normandy University. Since February 2018, he has been in charge of the Equine Health Department for LABEO (Research Division, formerly Frank Duncombe Laboratory) and the Director ´ of CENTAURE (GIS), a cluster for equine research in Normandy