Award details

Studentship: Antigenic relationships diagnostic assays and structural studies of BTV outer capsid protein VP2 of BTV serotypes 1 to 26

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001877
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Peter Mertens
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Carrie Batten, Dr Sushila Maan, Dr Kyriaki Nomikou
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	64,428
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2013
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	41 months

Abstract

IAH Studentship: The outer-capsid protein VP2 of bluetongue virus is the primary determinant of serotype and a target for neutralising antibodies that are generated during infection. Variations in VP2 are therefore of major importance for bluetongue diagnosis, epidemiology studies and vaccine development. The specificity of neutralising antibodies generated during bluetongue virus infection or vaccination, demonstrates the existence of type-specific epitopes (on VP2), that provide a basis for development of rapid, next generation assays to identify antibody-type-specificity. Such assays would be of considerable utility to Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) reference laboratories (including the NVRL at Pirbright). However, the cross-reactivity observed after multiple inoculations or infections with different BTV types also indicates the existence of other cross-reactive neutralising epitopes, that might form a basis for the development of cross-reactive sub-unit vaccines. The Lomonossoff group at John Innes (UEA) has transiently-expressed animal virus proteins (including BTV VP2) quickly and easily in plants, retaining their immunological properties. The relevant gene was inserted into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector and using the technique of “agro-infiltration” the construct was introduced into plants. The rapidity of expression coupled to the high yield means that it is possible to express multiple proteins in a short time frame. The expressed VP2 proteins will be used to test different reference and experimental antisera, to explore relationships between the different BTV types using luminex or Magpix platforms. The project will also generate modified or truncated proteins to identify cross-reactive or type specific neutralising epitopes. These reagents and an improved understanding at the molecular level of BTV serotype determinants and cross reactivity.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Animal Health, Microbiology, Structural Biology
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