Berois Barthe, Mabel Beatriz

Research interests

Since the beginning of my career, I have focused on generating epidemiological data on circulating viruses to understand their impact on public health and the productive sector. These studies have been fundamental in designing surveillance and control strategies and providing essential information for the development of veterinary vaccines. Over the years, I have established strategic collaborations that have driven high-impact social and technological projects.
Since 2011, I have led a pioneering research line in the country on enteric viruses in environmental matrices, yielding significant advances in epidemiological surveillance. At the local level, this work has provided key data on viral circulation and allowed for the evaluation of these matrices—particularly wastewater—as strategic tools in surveillance systems. The analysis of these viruses in the environment has facilitated collaboration with other academic groups and key stakeholders, such as OSE, the Montevideo Municipality (IM), and environmental ONGs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater virus monitoring gained particular relevance, enabling the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance within a multidisciplinary team.
Veterinary-Relevant Viruses: Diagnosis and Prevention (Vaccines and Antivirals)
Since 2010, I have investigated Rotavirus and Bovine Coronavirus, two pathogens responsible for diarrheal diseases with high morbidity and mortality in young calves. These infections affect livestock health and productivity, causing significant economic losses in cattle-raising countries like ours. Thanks to this research, I have molecularly characterized circulating strains and developed pilot inactivated formulations, identifying potential vaccine candidates. This work, conducted in collaboration with Laboratorio Santa Elena (now Virbac-Uruguay), has also contributed to the training of human resources in biotechnology. Internationally, studying Rotavirus immunobiology has driven the development of innovative vaccine models based on viral vectors, fostering technology transfer and the adoption of new methodologies in vaccinology.
Since 2006, I have developed a research line focused on Parapoxviruses, particularly Orf virus, the causative agent of Contagious Ecthyma in sheep. This virus belongs to the same family as Mpox and the eradicated Smallpox virus. Over the years, I have characterized the epidemiological status of the disease and contributed to the reformulation of a nationally produced vaccine in collaboration with Virbac-Uruguay. Additionally, studying Orf virus virulence factors has allowed me to structurally characterize its viral phosphatase and analyze its cellular targets, identifying it as a potential antiviral therapy target. On a more fundamental level, I seek to understand the role of this conserved virulence factor in large DNA viruses of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota, which have a nucleocytoplasmic replication cycle.

Working area

My research focuses on viruses in the environment and those of veterinary relevance, with an emphasis on epidemiological surveillance and the development of diagnostic and prevention tools. I work with various environmental matrices, primarily wastewater, to assess viral circulation and its potential impact on public health. Additionally, I investigate viruses affecting livestock, developing control strategies through vaccines and antivirals. Collaboration with other academic groups, biotechnology sector companies, and governmental organizations has been key to advancing these studies and contributing to applied knowledge in animal and public health.