Obiettivo To employ two non-replicating delivery systems will be employed to deliver antigens to the immune system and to elicit the appropriate protective immune responses against human diseases such as HIV, HCV and tumours. The immune responses and their protective efficacy will be assessed in animal models. The mechanism of CTL activities of these particles and their ability to induce mucosal responses will be studied. Both particles will be further investigated and modified for broader application.Brief descriptionTwo different self-assembled structures that lack nucleic acid have been developed as immunogen delivery systems during previous EEC funded projects. These are PPV-VLPs and NS1-TUBs and both have been shown to be highly immunogenic. Based on previous data we propose to generate chimeric VLPs and TUBs carrying a selection of T-cell epitopes of HIV-1, HCV and tumour antigens using recombinant baculovirus expression systems and insect cell cultures. Each assembled chimeric particles will be purified and characterised thoroughly at molecular and antigenic levels. Subsequently, these particles will be utilised to investigate their immunogenicity and their capabilities of inducing the appropriate immune responses in in vitro and in vivo model animals. The protective efficacy of each chimeric construct will be further assessed by challenge experiments in pre-clinical studies and for some constructs in clinical studies, if the opportunity becomes available. CTL response by non-replicating particles is a novel approach, and therefore the mechanism of such activity will be investigated in depth using the appropriate constructs. Lastly, each of the delivery systems will be modified by creating additional foreign sequence sites generating multiple chimeric copies by single recombinant vectors, and creating the delivery systems more immunologic by fusion with adjuvant, such as cholera toxin subunit. In addition, both types of particles will be subjected to high purified regimes suitable for human vaccine. The results and the reagents obtained from this project will allow to develop vaccines for other human and animal diseases. Campo scientifico natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acidsmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA viruseshepatitis Cmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIVmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines Programma(i) FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002 Argomento(i) 1.1.1.-2. - Key action Control of Infectious Diseases Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Keppel Street LONDON Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (4) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto CHIRON S.R.L. Italia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo VIA FIORENTINA 1 53100 SIENA Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato CHRISTIAN DE DUVE INSTITUTE OF CELLULAR PATHOLOGY Belgio Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Avenue Hippocrate 74 1200 BRUXELLES Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato INMUNOLOGIA Y GENETICA APLICADA SA Spagna Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Hermanos Garcia Noblejas 41 MADRID Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato INSTITUT PASTEUR Francia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Rue du Docteur Roux 25 75724 PARIS Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato