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The molecular basis of African swine fever virus pathogenesis

Reference	BBS/E/I/00000790
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Penelope Powell
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	133,830
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/07/2000
End date	30/06/2003
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Significantly, our recent work (Vallee et al, 2000) has shown that virulent, hemorrhagic isolates of ASFV can directly infect primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs), the cells that line blood vessels that are crucial regulators of vascular haemostasis. Expression of endothelial specific proteins, including E-selectin, P-selectin and endothelial cell growth factors are downregulated after ASFV infection, indicating a lack of the normal inflammatory response to viral infection. Moreover, TUNEL, annexin V and DAPI staining indicate that infected PAECs die by apoptosis. We hope to define the mechanism of ASFV-induced apoptosis by studying the interaction of specific viral proteins with proteins known to regulate apoptotic pathways in endothelial cells. The fact that infected PAECs show increased expression of procoagulation factors, such as tissue factor, also suggests that vascular endothelial cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. This model of viral infection of vascular endothelial cells will contribute in general to an understanding of other viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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