Award details

Molecular analysis of the bovine host response to disease

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001448
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Tracey Coffey
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	464,501
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/07/2009
End date	31/07/2011
Duration	25 months

Abstract

The Group studies the molecular basis of the innate immune response to infection with pathogens of major economic importance in the UK; Mycobacterium bovis (bovine tuberculosis) and Streptococcus uberis (bovine mastitis). This skills base, resources and assays are also applicable to other cattle diseases. .Studies on the host response to infection start at the cellular level, involving analysis of the initial interactions post-infection - recognition of the pathogen by cells of the innate immune system and the ensuing immune response. Work into important classes of C-type lectin receptors, including the Toll-like receptors, Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN, facilitates an understanding of their role in disease progression of both TB and mastitis. Following infection and uptake of the pathogen by immune cells, the effects of infection on the activation and kinetics of intracellular signalling pathways are studied. In addition gene expression profiles of bovine immune cells/lymph nodes, using bovine microarrays and quantitative PCR assays, are made. Thus the effects of infection on both transcription and protein production can be measured. Research into different classes of pattern recognition receptors and chemokine receptors on the surface of immune cells enables us to define the receptor repertoire of different cell populations, furthering our understanding of the roles of important immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils. This information can be further utilised as a means of targeting cells for potential vaccination strategies. We aim to characterise important immune genes and verify (or identify) their location in the genome. Given the increasing importance of non-bovine dairy producing animals, we are expanding some of our work to include these species. Given the predicted climate change, perceived impact of cattle on the environment and the importance of such species globally, a greater understanding of their immune response is crucial.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
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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