Objective
The host immune response to filarial parasites is a critical determinant of manifestation of disease and of disease severity. In the treatment of onchocerciasis a single dose of ivermectin activates the suppressed immune response of patients, but the immnological mechanisms effective during the elimination of microfilariae and their contribution to long lasting control of disease, are not well understood. Therefore, the objectives of the proposal are:
1. To activate the parasite-specific immune response in onchocerciasis patients after single and repeated doses of ivermectin. At present, our observations have shown a partial activation of the immune response after single dose treatment. Repeated doses and longitudinal examination of the immune response will delineate those factors and those mechanisms which are involved to constantly suppress microfilaridermia. 2. To characterize and to localize immunodominant O.volvulus antigens, potentially involved in protection and/or pathogenesis. An activation of the suppressed immune response in onchoerciasis patients by chemotherapy will identify those antigens which are immunodominant during the active immune response. Such antigens are of potential value for the development of a vaccine, but will also be examined for their potential to induce exacerbation of disease.
3. To analyse the functional potential of immunogenic O.volvulus antigens. Longitudinal examination of cellular reactivity against O.volvulus derived antigens concurrent with the measurement of cytokine production will delineate the importance and effects of cytokines during immunological hypo- and hyperreactivity in patients. Successive analysis of cells activated by filarial antigens will characterize those cells that contribute to the elimination of microfilariae.
4. To examine a possible immunodependant regulation of the reproductivity of O.volvulus. The observed clearance of skin microfilariae in ivermectin treated patients can be explained either by an activation of the most immune response, or alternatively by a reduced microfilarial release from gravid adult female worms, or by a disturbed intra-uterine development of microfilariae. All three mechanisms could be induced by drug facilitated immunity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
72074 TUEBINGEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.