I have recently conducted a large systematic study to quantify FMDV transmission and found that cattle are infectious for less than 50 hours to challenge previous assumptions on incubation and latent periods. In conjunction with work to quantify the degree of protection afforded by vaccines, this will improve the accuracy of disease spread models that were a highly controversial source of policy and culling advice during the UK 2001 epidemic. These conclusions will impact greatly on how the UK deals with future outbreaks. My group have studied the localisation of persisting virus in FMDV carriers to follicular dendritic cells within lymph node germinal centres. From studies of FMDV infection in calves, we showed antibody responses to capsid surface sites are T cell-independent, whereas those directed against nonstructural proteins are T cell-dependent. Furthermore, CD4(+) T-cell-independent antibodies play a major role in the resolution of disease. These results have shaped the course of the FMDV vaccinology programme to optimise the design of vaccine antigens. Substantial FMD vaccine development efforts focus on delivery of whole viral capsids by a variety of approaches and routes. Collaborating with Oxford structural biologists and baculovirus experts at Reading, we have developed an in vitro system to make empty capsids stabilised by targeted mutagenesis to survive heat and pH changes. These have potential as vaccines with safer production, better shelf life, and greater potency.