Award details

Molecular analysis of the interaction of intracellular pathogens with bovine antigen presenting cells and host immune responses

Reference	BBS/E/I/00000984
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Tracey Coffey
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	669,415
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	30/06/2009
Duration	75 months

Abstract

The immune response of the host varies with different pathogens, affecting pathogenesis and outcome of infection. Understanding such variations aids the design of appropriate vaccine strategies. The initial interaction of pathogens, or their antigens, with the antigen presenting cell (APC) results in the synthesis of cytokines and expression of co- stimulatory molecules that influence the subsequent T cell response. The project will focus on two model systems - analysis of the response of cattle to Mycobacterium bovis and the response of in vitro derived APC. Techniques for the molecular analysis of co-stimulatory molecules and cytokines will be established, added to those already available and used to assess immune responses in vaccinated and infected cattle to facilitate an understanding of immunity and pathogenesis. Cloned genes will be used to derive monoclonal antibodies for protein assays. To identify novel cellular responses, a sensitive differential gene expression technique (cDNA RDA representational difference analysis of cDNA) will be adapted to investigate how the APC responds to infection with M. bovis and how the pathogen responds to the intracellular environment. This model will further employ mycobacteria, bacterial mutants and bacterial antigens in assays aimed at determining how the bacteria or their products are handled by and affect the APC.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Animal Health, Immunology, Microbiology
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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