History of Mbovis.org

2002
A committee of researchers (see below), active in the field of spoligotyping, defined the parameters for the database. The results of this consultation were presented by Noel Smith at a workshop, "DNA fingerprinting of bovine TB strains" funded by the European Union Concerted Action Programme (VENoMYC), held in Belfast in October 2002. The following scientists took part in the initial discussion of the Spoligotype Database project: Glyn Hewinson, Stephen Gordon, Dick van Soolingen, Kristin Kremer, Robin Skuce, Sydney Neill, Nalin Rastogi, Christophe Sola, Herre Heersma, Alicia Aranaz, James Dale and Noel Smith.

2003
Noel Smith and Rainer Hilscher (University of Sussex) developed the database in April 2003. The website was managed by Noel Smith and supported by DEFRA and the VLA (now APHA), Weybridge from 2003 to 2015.

2012
Mbovis.org publication: Smith NH., Upton P. "Naming spoligotype patterns for the RD9-deleted lineage of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; www.Mbovis.org". Infect Genet Evol. 12(4):873-6. 2012.

2016

Mycobacterium bovis Spoligotype Database is managed by the Mycobacterial Unit of VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre of Universidad Complutense Madrid. The new website development was cofinanced by the European Commission through the European Reference Laboratory for bovine tuberculosis.