Award details

The Tick Cell Biobank - a global collection of tick cell lines

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001741
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Lesley Bell-Sakyi
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	756,961
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2012
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	59 months

Abstract

The Tick Cell Biobank (TCB) is a global repository for tick cell lines (TCL) derived from ixodid and argasid species of veterinary and medical importance available now and in future. As well as supplying tick cell lines on request to the UK and international research community, the TCB trains recipient scientists in cell line establishment and maintenance, characterises the cell lines including screening for endogenous viruses, and continues to derive new TCL. Establishment of TCL takes many years and requires specialised expertise and, importantly, a stable background of laboratory support, which this project provides. Since the TCB was established in 2009, the crucial role played by TCL in research into ticks and the diseases they transmit has become increasingly clear. Indeed, interest in TCL and the methods used to generate them has spread to encompass pathogens transmitted by other arthropods such as mites, fleas and lice. With environmental, social and climate change driving the emergence of new vector-borne diseases, the demand for TCL is likely to continue to increase in the future. The TCB has already been enormously successful, generating eleven new cell lines and supplying TCL to recipients in, and training young scientists from, 21 countries in five continents. TCL from the TCB have already facilitated a wide range of studies, but much remains to be done. Global research has only scratched the surface of knowledge of these economically important and biologically fascinating parasites, their microbiota and the pathogens they transmit. Continued maintenance and expansion of the TCB is essential to support this research now and for many years to come. The TCB is part of the Institute's National Capability and as such provides tick cell lines and training to other research groups in the UK and beyond as well as supporting in-house research into arbovirus groups including bunyaviruses, flaviviruses, orbiviruses and African swine fever virus.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Animal Health
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

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search