Respiratory Viruses Laboratory of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Virology Department, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
The Laboratory for respiratory viruses (LRV) was founded in the 60's as national center for influenza (NIC / WHO). It was restructured in 1979 by Dr. M.S. Pereira and run during the 80's by Dr. J.P. Nascimento. Since the 90's the current laboratory is run by M. M. Siqueira. The initial mission of LRV was to determine the epidemiology and diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses. The laboratory has been involved in training of scientists from many Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay and Panama, since the 80's. The LVR has been one of the pioneers in Brazil in the study of Influenza virus, RSV and measles. During the 90's, as the PAHO aimed to eliminate the indigenous transmission of rubella and measles in the Americas, we were accredited by the MoH and WHO as national and regional reference laboratory for these viruses, respectively. Currently, we participate in different projects involving molecular studies of respiratory and exanthematic viruses. As National Reference laboratory we participate actively in various MoH and WHO committees and co-authors of their manuals or guidelines. Since 2006 we are enrolled in a Fondation Merieux-funded project aimed to study severe acute respiratory infections and their ethiology and to discover new respiratory viruses. Towards the future, our tasks might also include the study of additional viruses through the molecular surveillance of VZV and Mumps.
