A synthetic version of the Schmallenberg virus has been made in the laboratory by Scottish scientists.
The research raises hopes for developing a vaccine for the livestock disease, which causes lambs and calves to be stillborn.
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was discovered little more than a year ago in Germany, but has now spread to several European countries. About 1,000 farms have reported cases across England and Wales. Some farmers are reporting heavy losses as the lambing season gets underway.
Scottish researchers, led by Massimo Palmarini and Alain Kohl from the University of Glasgow, made a synthetic version of the virus in the laboratory to study its genetics and how it infects farm animals.
View the original article here: Synthetic farm virus built in lab
