We currently use the BSL-3 laboratory at Veterinary Research Institute, which allows us to perform in vitro experiments, including various virological and molecular biology assays with highly contagious pathogens, as well as in vivo studies on mice. Mostly, we work in the BSL-3 lab with viruses such as WNV, SARS-CoV-2, MPXV or the rabies virus.

We are also involved in the construction of a new BSL-3 lab within the MUNI Pre-clinical Centre at BioPharmaHub, where we will have a huge capacity to perform state-of-the-art experiments and analyses at a top scientific level. From 2025, we will be using these highly secure, fully equipped state-of-the-art facilities.

Mouse models have long played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of viral infections and their impact on human health. We employ this model to investigate various facets of virus infections:

Pathogenesis Studies: The mouse model has been pivotal in elucidating the progression of virus infections within the host. It allows us to study how these viruses enter various tissues, replicate, and cause disease. This understanding is crucial for developing targeted treatments.

Immune Responses: Virus infections trigger complex immune responses in humans. Studying these responses in mice helps us better understand how the immune system combats the virus and, in some cases, how it might contribute to disease severity.

Vaccine Development: Developing vaccines against viruses is a priority. Laboratory mice have been instrumental in evaluating the efficacy and safety of potential vaccine candidates. This model allows us to assess the generation of neutralizing antibodies, cellular immune responses, and protection against subsequent viral challenge.

Antiviral Drug Testing: Laboratory mice have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of antiviral drugs against virus infections. These studies provide crucial information about the potential therapeutic agents and their impact on viral replication and disease outcomes.

Preclinical studies involving mice have emerged as a cornerstone of virology research, providing a vital bridge between basic laboratory investigations and clinical trials. These studies are performed to assess the safety and efficacy of potential antiviral therapies.

With our equipment and experience, we are able to perform preclinical experiments at the highest standards. We are open to collaborating with partners in academia, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, to whom we can offer comprehensive customised solutions.​​

We participate in the management of the Collection of Arboviruses, which contains 37 species and more than 400 different isolates of more or less clinically important viruses.

Besides these viruses, we also have non-arboviruses in our collection, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, herpesviruses, rabies virus, monkeypox virus and others.

Thanks to close cooperation with the Institute of Parasitology, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ceske Budejovice, we have access to laboratory breeding of several tick species (in all stages), which can be used for in vivo experiments. We have established various methods to study virus-host interactions or the influence of the external environment.

At the same time, we also maintain tick cell lines in culture that originate from different European tick species. These cell lines are suitable for arbovirus susceptibility testing and subsequent in vitro experiments.