Award details

Underwood Fellowship: Initiation of anti-Eimeria immune responses in the chick gut: role of epithelium and T lymphocytes in acquired immunity

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001336
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Adrian Smith
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	10,190
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2007
End date	30/09/2008
Duration	12 months

Abstract

There is a wealth of data describing the induction of immune responses following infection with the Eimeria species. However many of these responses do not provide protection against infection. To successfully implement a vaccination strategy against coccidial parasites at least 2 issues need to be investigated (1) identification of protective antigens in the respective Eimeria species and (2) the mechanisms by which the parasite infects the gut epithelium and initiates protective immunity. This project addresses the latter issue. In spite of the intensive research into Eimeria related immunity very little is known of the initial host responses that are induced by infection. Furthermore the preference of Eimeria for selective niches in the digestive tract is well know however there is no moleclalr evidence to explain this preference. The fact that T cell immunity is essential for protection against Eimeria is now well established while at the same time the requirements needed to induce protective T cell immunity have yet to be determined. The objectives of the project are to: (a) determine the nature of intestinal epithelial response to challenge with Eimeria spp and (b) determine the stimulatory potential of infected gut epithellium on recruitment and function of Eimeria reponsive T lymphocytes.

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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