Award details

Studentship: The inflammatory response to Bluetongue virus and vector insect saliva in ovine and bovine immune and skin cells

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001860
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Karin Darpel
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Kathryn Moffat, Dr Geraldine Taylor
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	74,184
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	03/07/2013
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	44 months

Abstract

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the aetiological agent of an economically important disease of ruminants (bluetongue disease). Severe clinical signs develop mainly in sheep while infected cattle remain largely asymptomatic. The reason for the difference in disease manifestation is not fully understood, however different immune responses to BTV may play a vital role. BTV is transmitted between its ruminant hosts almost exclusively by Culicoides biting midges. Insect saliva proteins can elicit strong inflammatory reaction in mammalian skin and it has become evident that many arboviruses benefit from co-inoculation with insect saliva. A method has been developed to collect Culicoides saliva proteins enabling the design of in vitro assays and proteomic analysis. The overall aim of this PhD project is to investigate the inflammatory response of certain immune and skin cells towards BTV infections in the presence and absence of Culicoides saliva in vitro and compare the immune response of ovine and bovine host cells. This project will investigate the following hypothesises: 1. The inflammatory response of certain (primary) immune and skin cells towards BTV infections differs between bovine and ovine derived cells 2. Culicoides saliva elicits an inflammatory response in ovine and bovine immune and skin cells that influences BTV replication 3. Individual saliva proteins of Culicoides elicit specific inflammatory responses in immune cells and the saliva protein responsible can be identified This multidisciplinary project will utilise a combination of techniques e.g. cell culture, virus infection and titration, confocal microscopy, real-time PCR, Proteomics, ELISA, flow cytometry and Culicoides saliva collection. Methods to fractionate Culicoides saliva while maintaining the biological activity will be developed. The successful candidate will acquire expertise in immunology, virology and proteomics

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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