Institute of Virology and Immunology

The Federal Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is Switzerland’s reference laboratory for the diagnosis and research of highly infectious and other important epizootic diseases, including viral zoonoses (infectious diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans). As part of a cooperation agreement with the Vetsuisse faculty of the University of Bern since 2014, the IVI is also responsible for teaching in virology and immunology at the faculty. The IVI has two locations. In Mittelhäusern, we have a high-security laboratory for work with highly contagious animal diseases (up to risk level 4) and zoonotic pathogens (up to risk level 3), and in Bern for work with pathogens up to risk level 2.

For current news, see also 'About us'.

News and Events

Open House - June 28

Visit us at the open day on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Get hands-on, learn about the unknown and experience the interaction between humans, animals and the environment. With food trucks, games, large animal rescue and a scavenger hunt for children. On Saturday, June 28 2025 on the grounds of the Bern Veterinary Hospital.

SRF Tagesgespäch ('topic talk of the day')

In this radio interview with radio SRF (swiss german dialect), Claudia Bachofen explains why the threat of animal diseases has increased so dramatically in recent years and why the IVI must be ready at all times to diagnose outbreaks.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Razieh Ardali reports on “trained immunity”, which has promising potential for modulating vaccines and improving their effectiveness in fighting infectious pathogens.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Amal Fahmi reports on the development of human in vitro models that can reproduce viral infections in the placenta and brain tissue of the fetus as accurately as possible.

Avian influenza in dairy cows in the USA

Infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 have been detected in several dairy cattle farms in various US states. The probability that Switzerland will be affected by similar infections is very low.

A Swiss collaboration has been designated a member of the WHO's CoViNet network

Launched in early 2024, the CoronaVirus Network (CoViNet) aims to detect, monitor and carry out in-depth genetic analyses of coronaviruses and their variants in humans and animals. The IVI is now also a member.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Robin Avanthay reports: "The goal was to develop a novel mucosal vaccine against influenza A virus, and assess its efficacy in the pig model".

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Kemal Mehinagic reports that he is fascinated about the African swine fever virus, which still holds many secrets that he would love to unravel.

No case of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD in Switzerland

Switzerland is again considered free of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Silvio Steiner reports on his thesis and explains how coronaviruses undermine cellular defence systems.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is running a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Emilia Radulovic reports on her thesis and explains which factors of the host influence the progression and severity of African swine fever.

Board exam of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists

Kemal Mehanigic, PhD student in the group of Dr. Nicolas Ruggli (IVI) and former resident at the Institute of Animal Pathology, successfully passed the board exam of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists. Congratulations!

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is launching a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Annika Kratzel reports on her thesis, explaining how key factors in SARS-CoV-2 infection can serve as drug targets.

The Egon Naef Foundation awards its 2023 prize to PD Dr Marco Alves

The Egon Naef Foundation for in vitro research has presented its 2023 prize to PD Dr Marco Alves of the IVI and the University of Bern. The researcher and his team have developed an in vitro model that demonstrates the infection of the human placenta by SARS-CoV-2.

Newly discovered properties of Omicron BA.1

Omicron has undergone an evolutionary leap compared to previous variants of the virus: it replicates more in the nose and less in the bronchial tubes. This is shown by a study conducted by the IVI and in collaboration with the German FLI.

Development of second-generation COVID-19 vaccines

RocketVax AG announces new advances in the development of second-generation COVID-19 vaccines

African swine fever (ASF): Pig with a high hygienic status are less vulnerable

Just recently, scientists at the IVI published that the hygienic status of pigs plays an important role in the development of the disease caused by the African swine fever virus

Improved COVID-19 vector vaccine candidate

In a recent publication, scientists at the IVI and the University of Bern report on a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)-vectored COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The IVI is launching a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Nathan Leborgne reports about his thesis on the importance of serpins, the safety backstop of the immune defence system.

New in vitro model: an alternative method to animal testing

The research team of PD Dr. Marco Alves has developed an in vitro model of the human placenta. This new model contributes to promote the 3R Principle that aims to replace, reduce, and refine animal experimentation, and more particularly the principle of replacement.

SARS-CoV-2: a nasal vaccine in the pipeline

With the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation, the team of Volker Thiel, virologist at the IVI and at the University of Bern, is developing a live attenuated vaccine. In order to ensure the required clinical trials, RocketVax AG has concluded a new partnership with a research consortium.

Which virus is behind the flu?

Why are we seeing recurring infections with avian influenza A viruses? What is the zoonotic potential of animal influenza viruses? What research is the IVI doing on influenza viruses? Current interview with Dr. Gert Zimmer, a virologist at the IVI and the University of Bern, and news from the IVI on flu cases in Switzerland.

Outbreak of Newcastle Disease

An outbreak of Newcastle Disease was identified in a laying hen farm in the Canton of Zurich. Parts of the virus genome were sequenced at the IVI to genotypically characterize the virus. Further analyses are currently carried out in collaboration with the OIE/FAO reference laboratory and the EU reference laboratory.

The battle of the SARS-CoV-2 variants: a winning approach

In order to fight the pandemic in the long term, it is crucial to understand why one variant prevails over another. An international study conducted by our IVI and the University of Bern, in collaboration with the FLI in Germany, has provided important answers by comparing the spread and transmission of different emerging variants in parallel.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is launching a blog dedicated to its young researchers. This time, Thao Tran reports about her thesis that was aimed to develop pandemic preparedness strategies to deal with future epidemics. But it rapidly turned into reality with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 allowed to test the system in a "real life" situation.

Innovative research into new vaccines against Covid-19

Within the framework of the National Research Program "Covid-19" (NRP 78) of the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF, the IVI is involved in a research project on the development of new vaccines.

The human placenta, a target of SARS-CoV-2

Research teams from the IVI and CHUV found that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the cells of the human placenta and that the virus can proliferate and infect neighboring placental cells. [Image: Slice of human placenta infected with SARS-CoV-2. Green: viral spike protein; blue: cell nuclei]

What is the risk of epizootic diseases in Switzerland?

How well is Switzerland prepared for an outbreak of African swine fever? "Tagesgespräch" (topic talk of the day) at the radio station SRF1 (in German) with the director of our institute, Barbara Wieland.

A non-contagious model of SARS-CoV-2 enables more efficient research

Researchers led by Charles Rice (Rockefeller University) and Volker Thiel of the IVI have developed a non-contagious model of SARS-CoV-2 that makes it easier, faster and safer to study the virus and new variants

World Rabies Day 2021

Rabies in Switzerland: a daily battle. If a case of rabies is suspected, prompt action is vital to protect potentially exposed humans against this deadly zoonosis.

BVD eradication - One final effort needed

In the final phase of BVD eradication, all possible ways by which the virus can spread must be eliminated: but how? The current body of knowledge on BVD virus and its control has recently been published.

Blog - Young researchers from the IVI

The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is launching a blog dedicated to its young researchers. We start with Melanie Brügger, who reports about her research on the repair and regeneration after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-mediated acute lung injury.

"Sooner or later, anyone who is not vaccinated will get infected"

How safe are RNA vaccines? Who will be hit by the fourth wave? Volker Thiel, head of the Division Virology of the IVI, answers urgent questions on the corona vaccinations in a video interview.

In vitro zoo helps in understanding SARS-CoV-2

A team of researchers from the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have used a unique collection of advanced cell culture models of cells lining the airways from various domesticated and wildlife animals to determine which animals are susceptibly to SARS-CoV-2 infection. [Image: Close up of AEC cultures of Rhesus macaques showing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells (green)]

One Health: How does research on a porcine coronavirus help us to understand SARS-CoV-2?

Volker Thiel, researcher at the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) and professor at the University of Bern, performs research on coronaviruses in the veterinary field for several years. In the video interview, he explains how findings from his research on the porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus can help in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. [Image: coronavirus research in the IVI high-security laboratory]

Change in leadership at the Institute for Virology and Immunology (IVI)

Barbara Wieland will lead the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) from 3 May 2021. She succeeds Christian Griot, who is retiring after 28 years at the head of the Institute.

Why SARS-CoV-2 replicates better in the upper respiratory tract

A team of researchers from the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and our institute (IVI) have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract. They have shown that natural temperature differences that exist in the upper and lower respiratory tract have a profound influence on SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent innate immune activation in human cells.

African swine fever virus (ASFV): Research on a vaccine and developing new diagnostic methods

BioCopy Holding AG and the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have announced to collaborate in researching a vaccine and developing new diagnostic methods in the fight against African swine fever (ASF).

SARS-CoV-2 mutants in competition

How dangerous are new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus? An international team involving researchers from our institute has developed an approach that can accurately assess the transmissibility of new virus mutants.

Insights of a Master student in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bern

In the magazine BioFokus of the association «Research for Life», Kimberly Schmied reports on her master thesis at our institute, and how she was immediately involved in the research on a pandemic virus and a mandate of the WHO.

Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID)

Starting January 1st 2021, the University of Bern and the "Stiftung Vinetum" establish a multidisciplinary institute to investigate future epidemics and pandemics. Based on the concept of «One Health», the MCID will be affiliated at the Vetsuisse Faculty, and will be headed by Prof. Volker Thiel (IVI).

Dr. Sabrina Burgener receives the "Dr. Lutz Zwillenberg-Preis"

Dr. Sabrina Sofia Burgener, who worked as post-doc at the IVI from 2017-2019 in the group of Prof. Charaf Benarafa, receives the prestigious Dr. Lutz Zwillenberg-Award of the University of Bern. We heartily congratulate!

Immunoprotein impairs SARS-CoV-2

An international team with researchers of our Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) of the University of Bern and the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) showed that an endogenous protein prevents the virus from fusing with host cells.

Rapid test for the determination of neutralising antibodies against Sars-CoV-2

A German-Swiss team, with researcher of the division Virology of the IVI and the Ruhr-University Bochum, presents a test that determines the amount of neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 within a short period of time without high biosafety requirements.

Bern coronavirus clone goes "viral": How SARS-CoV-2 was cloned

Researchers in virology at the IVI and veterinary bacteriology at the University of Bern have cloned the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The synthetic clones are being used by research groups worldwide to test corona samples, find antiviral drugs and develop vaccines as quickly as possible. The method developed in Bern can also be used in future to combat other highly infectious viruses.

Fight against coronaviruses - A visit in the high security laboratory

The IVI in the broadcast "Puls" of the Swiss Television SRF [in german]: "Von der Arbeit im bernischen Mittelhäusern profitieren Labors weltweit. Ein exklusiver Einblick."

Earliest report worlwide of atpyical porcine pestivirus (APPV) in Switzerland

Using a newly developed RT-PCR assay, we showed that APPV is widely present in Switzerland at least since 1986, currently the earliest report worldwide. With approx. 10%, the virus prevalence was surprisingly high in young animals at slaughter. Sequencing of a number of virus samples obtained revealed that the virus strains circulating in Switzerland differ considerably from isolates described worlwide.

Bat influenza viruses differ from conventional influenza viruses in the way they enter the host

Bat influenza A viruses have only recently been isolated in South American fruit-eating bats. An international consortium of scientists have now identified the MHC class II protein complex as essential entry factor for bat influenza A viruses in multiple species.

Interaction of host proteins with the replication complex of coronaviruses

V’kovski et al. of our institute developed a way to tag any host protein that came near the virus factories of various coronaviruses. These new results provide clues about which proteins viruses actually need from their host cells. These findings could help researchers to understand more generally about how viruses multiply. In the future, this knowledge could lead to new ways to combat virus infections.

A virus that displays Swiss history

The two most common cattle breed in Switzerland are infected by different types of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Their distribution dates back to a 'religious struggle for predominance' in the 15th century, as published by researchers of our institute in a recent article in PLoS ONE.

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University of Bern
Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI)

Länggassstrasse 122
Postfach 3350
3001 Bern