Award details

The effect of leucodepletion on transmission of BSE by transfusion of sheep blood components

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001161
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Eleanor Fiona Houston
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	86,171
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/11/2005
End date	31/10/2011
Duration	72 months

Abstract

This project will use sheep experimentally infected with BSE as a model to study the risks of transmission of variant CJD by blood components in humans. The aim of the project is to determine the distribution of BSE infectivity in sheep blood components, and the effectiveness of human leucodepletion filters in removing infectivity. The methods used for collection of blood and separation and filtration of components will follow as closely as possible those routinely employed for human blood by transfusion services, and will initially be developed and validated for normal sheep blood in the laboratories of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. A secondary aim of the project is to develop a bioassay for measurement of titres of infectivity in blood components, using transgenic mouse lines that over-express ovine PrP. The sheep experiments will be carried out using BSE-infected donors and will assess the effect of leucodepleting blood components (plasma, platelets and erythrocytes) on transmission at a single pre-clinical time point. Transmission rates will be compared with the transmission rate following transfusion of buffy coat alone.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Animal Health, TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies)
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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