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Consultant Laboratory for Poxviruses at the Robert Koch Institute

Head:
Andreas Nitsche
Deputy:
Livia Schrick, Janine Michel

The Consultant Laboratory for Poxviruses employs various diagnostic methods to identify an infection with poxviruses.

In addition to classical virological methods, modern molecular methods are refined in order to enable a rapid and reliable detection and typing of poxviruses.

Besides human poxviruses (Variola/smallpox) other human-pathogenic poxviruses can also be differentiated, e.g. cowpox-, monkeypox- and parapoxviruses as well as other poxviruses.

For instructions on how to send specimens, please refer to the sample accompanying form (in German) or contact our lab:

Phone KL Pox: +49 30/18754-5111
E-Mail: contact form
Consultant Laboratory for Poxviruses, ZBS 1
Robert Koch Institute
Seestraße 10
13353 Berlin
Germany

Further information

Date: 27.04.2023

Publications

  • Michel J, Targosz A, Rinner T, Bourquain D, Brinkmann A, Sacks JA, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2022): Evaluation of 11 commercially available PCR kits for the detection of monkeypox virus DNA, Berlin, July to September 2022.
    Euro Surveill. 27 (45): 2200816. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.45.2200816. more

  • Diaz-Cánova D, Moens UL, Brinkmann A, Nitsche A, Okeke MI (2022): Genomic Sequencing and Analysis of a Novel Human Cowpox Virus With Mosaic Sequences From North America and Old World Orthopoxvirus.
    Frontiers in Microbiology 13: 868887. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.868887. more

show all

  • Diaz-Cánova D, Mavian C, Brinkmann A, Nitsche A, Moens U, Okeke MI (2022): Genomic Sequencing and Phylogenomics of Cowpox Virus.
    Viruses 14 (10): 2134. doi: 10.3390/v14102134. more

  • Wendt R, Tittelbach J, Schrick L, Kellner N, Kalbitz , Ruehe B, Michel J, Schliemann S, Elsner P, Lübbert C, Nitsche A (2021): Generalized cowpox virus infection in an immunosuppressed patient.
    Int. J. Infect. Dis. 106 (May): 276–278. Epub Mar 29. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.076. more

  • Mavian C, López-Bueno A, Martín R, Nitsche A, Alcamí A (2021): Comparative pathogenesis, genomics and phylogeography of mousepox.
    Viruses 13 (6): 1146. Epub Jun 15. doi: 10.3390/v13061146. more

  • Bourquain D, Schrick L, Tischer BK, Osterrieder K, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2021): Replication of cowpox virus in macrophages is dependent on the host range factor p28/N1R.
    Virol. J. 18 (1): 173. Epub Aug 23. doi: 10.1186/s12985-021-01640-x. more

  • Patrono LV, Pléh K, Samuni L, Ulrich M, Röthemeier C, Sachse A, Muschter S, Nitsche A, Couacy-Hymann E, Boesch C, Wittig RM, Calvignac-Spencer S, Leendertz FH (2020): Monkeypox virus emergence in wild chimpanzees reveals distinct clinical outcomes and viral diversity.
    Nat. Microbiol. 5 (7): 955-965. Epub Apr 27. doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-0706-0. more

  • Esparza J, Lederman S, Nitsche A, Damaso CR (2020): Early smallpox vaccine manufacturing in the United States: introduction of the "animal vaccine" in 1870, establishment of "vaccine farms", and the beginnings of the vaccine industry.
    Vaccine 38 (30): 4773-4779. Epub May 27. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.037. more

  • Esparza J, Nitsche A, Damaso CR (2020): Investigations on the historical origin and evolution of the smallpox vaccine.
    Gac. Méd. Caracas 128 (Supl 1): S88–S97. doi: 10.47307/GMC.2020.128.s1.11. more

  • Brinkmann A, Souza ARV, Esparza J, Nitsche A, Damaso CR (2020): Re-assembly of nineteenth-century smallpox vaccine genomes reveals the contemporaneous use of horsepox and horsepox-related viruses in the USA.
    Genome Biol. 21 (1): 286. Epub Dec 4. doi: 10.1186/s13059-020-02202-0. more

  • Gruber CEM, Giombini E, Selleri M, Tausch SH, Andrusch A, Tyshaieva A, Cardeti G, Lorenzetti R, De Marco L, Carletti F, Nitsche A et al. (2018): Whole genome characterization of Orthopoxvirus (OPV) Abatino, a zoonotic virus representing a putative novel clade of Old World orthopoxviruses
    Viruses 10 (10): pii: E546. Epub Oct 6. doi: 10.3390/v10100546. more

  • Grossegesse M, Doellinger J, Fritsch A, Laue M, Piesker J, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2018): Global ubiquitination analysis reveals extensive modification and proteasomal degradation of cowpox virus proteins, but preservation of viral cores
    Sci. Rep. 8 (1): 1807. Epub Jan 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20130-9. more

  • Esparza J, Nitsche A, Damaso CR (2018): Beyond the myths: Novel findings for old paradigms in the history of the smallpox vaccine
    PLoS Pathog. 14 (7): e1007082. Epub Jul 26. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007082. more

  • Wibbelt G, Tausch SM, Dabrowski PW, Kershaw O, Nitsche A, Schrick L (2017): Berlin Squirrelpox Virus, a new poxvirus in red squirrels, Berlin, Germany
    Emerg. Infect. Dis. 23 (10): 1726–1729. doi: 10.3201/eid2310.171008. more

  • Stagegaard J, Kurth A, Stern D, Dabrowski PW, Pocknell A, Nitsche A, Schrick L (2017): Seasonal recurrence of Cowpox virus outbreaks in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
    PLoS One 12 (11): e0187089. Epub Nov 9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187089. more

  • Schrick L, Tausch SH, Dabrowski PW, Damaso CR, Esparza J, Nitsche A (2017): An early American smallpox vaccine based on horsepox
    N. Engl. J. Med. 377 (15): 1491–1492. Epub Oct 12. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1707600. more

  • Leendertz SA, Stern D, Theophil D, Anoh E, Mossoun A, Schubert G, Wiersma L, Akoua-Koffi C, Couacy-Hymann E, Muyembe-Tamfum JJ, Karhemere S, Pauly M, Schrick L, Leendertz FH, Nitsche A (2017): A cross-sectional serosurvey of anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies in Central and Western Africa
    Viruses 9 (10): pii: E278. Epub Sep 29. doi: 10.3390/v9100278. more

  • Grossegesse M, Doellinger J, Tyshaieva A, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2017): Combined proteomics/genomics approach reveals proteomic changes of mature virions as a novel poxvirus adaption mechanism
    Viruses 9 (11): pii: E337. Epub Nov 10. doi: 10.3390/v9110337. more

  • Grossegesse M, Doellinger J, Haldemann B, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2017): A Next-Generation Sequencing approach uncovers viral transcripts incorporated in poxvirus virions
    Viruses 9 (10): pii: E296. Epub Oct 13. doi: 10.3390/v9100296. more

  • Grönemeyer LL, Baltzer A, Broekaert S, Schrick L, Möller L, Nitsche A et al. (2017): Generalised cowpox virus infection
    Lancet 390 (10104): 1769. Epub Jun 29. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31428-9. more

  • Esparza J, Schrick L, Damaso CR, Nitsche A (2017): Equination (inoculation of horsepox): an early alternative to vaccination (inoculation of cowpox) and the potential role of horsepox virus in the origin of the smallpox vaccine
    Vaccine 35 (52): 7222-7230. Epub Nov 11. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.11.003. more

  • Ziem B, Thien H, Achazi K, Yue C, Stern D, Silberreis K, Gholami MF, Beckert F, Gröger D, Mülhaupt R, Rabe JP, Nitsche A, Haag R (2016): Highly efficient multivalent 2D nanosystems for inhibition of orthopoxvirus particles
    Adv. Healthc. Mater. 5 (22): 2922-2930. Epub Sep 1. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201600812. more

  • Wintergerst U, Schrick L, Niederseer R, Nitsche A (2016): Kleinkind mit Ulkus am Oberschenkel
    Monatsschr. Kinderheilkd. 164 (11): 969–971. Epub Sep 21. doi: 10.1007/s00112-016-0139-2. more

  • Stern D, Pauly D, Zydek M, Miller L, Piesker J, Laue M, Lisdat F, Dorner MB, Dorner BG, Nitsche A (2016): Development of a genus-specific antigen capture ELISA for orthopoxviruses - target selection and optimized screening
    PLoS One 11 (3): e0150110. Epub Mar 1. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150110. more

  • Stern D, Olson VA, Smith SK, Pietraszczyk M, Miller L, Miethe P, Dorner BG, Nitsche A (2016): Rapid and sensitive point-of-care detection of Orthopoxviruses by ABICAP immunofiltration
    Virol. J. 13 (1): 207. Epub Dec 9. doi: 10.1186/s12985-016-0665-5. more

  • Świtaj K, Kajfasz P, Kurth A, Nitsche A (2015): Cowpox after a cat scratch - case report from Poland
    Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 22 (3): 456-458. Epub Sep 4. doi: 10.5604/12321966.1167713. more

  • Medaglia ML, Moussatché N, Nitsche A, Dabrowski PW, Li Y, Damon IK, Lucas CG, Arruda LB, Damaso CR (2015): Genomic analysis, phenotype, and virulence of the historical Brazilian smallpox vaccine strain IOC: Implications for the origins and evolutionary relationships of vaccinia virus
    J. Virol. 89 (23): 11909-11925. Epub Sep 16. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01833-15. more

  • Hobi S, Mueller RS, Hill M, Nitsche A et al. (2015): Neurogenic inflammation and colliquative lymphadenitis with persistant orthopox virus DNA detection in a human case of cowpox virus infection transmitted by a domestic cat
    Br. J. Dermatol. 173 (2): 535-539. Epub Feb 1. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13700. more

  • Doellinger J, Schaade L, Nitsche A (2015): Comparison of the cowpox virus and vaccinia virus mature virion proteome: analysis of the species- and strain-specific proteome
    PLoS One 10 (11): e0141527. Epub Nov 10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141527. more

Additional Information

Accreditation

Selected methods are
accredited to DIN EN ISO 15189 and
DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 by Dakks

Logo für Akkreditierung des Labors