Award details

BBSRC Studentship: Modulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunopathology following DNA vaccination

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001061
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Geraldine Taylor
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	5,970
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2003
End date	30/09/2006
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the predominant cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in young children and is closely related to bovine (B)RSV, which is a major cause of respiratory disease in young calves. Two major problems have hampered the development of safe and effective RSV vaccines. First, prior vaccination can enhance the severity of respiratory disease following subsequent RSV infection; and second, natural infection does not provide solid protection against reinfection. DNA vaccination is an effective way of inducing long-lived immunity and offers many advantages over other types of vaccination. Particle mediated intradermal delivery (PMID) is a highly efficient method of DNA vaccination that allows penetration of the DNA across the stratum corneum and antigen expression by keratinocytes and most importantly Langerhans cells. Using DNA plasmids encoding RSV genes, the mechanisms involved in the induction of immune responses after PMID immunisation will be investigated. Studies will involve analysis of the cytokine milieu and cell response in the skin and draining lymph nodes following PMID. The effect of co-delivery of cytokines genes on the local cytokine response, induction of immune responses and on the duration of immunity will be investigated. This information will help to identify approaches to improve the protective efficacy of plasmids encoding RSV genes and lessen the impact of immunopathology during acute RSV infection.

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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