Objective
The aim of this project is to examine how the local skin microenvironment influences the generation of antiviral immune responses following herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Genital herpes, caused primarily by HSV-2, has a worldwide prevalence and is the leading cause of genital ulcers. An increasing number of clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that a recent genital HSV-2 infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission by up to 3-fold. Therefore, further studies that examine the local immune responses to HSV-2 infection are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of enhanced risk of HIV-1 acquisition and reveal possible strategies for the development of an effective HSV vaccine. Our project will focus in particular on the responses of human natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are poised to respond within hours of activation and can rapidly modulate cellular immune responses. We will examine the ability of NKT cells to respond directly to virus infection and how the virus can affect their function. In addition, we will investigate how cutaneous immune cell types influence NKT cells and their ability to modulate appropriate cellular responses against HSV-2 infection. A three-dimensional organotypic culture model of skin will be utilised to examine these interactions in a physiologically relevant setting, obviating the need for the use of animal models. This study will provide critical information on how the immunomodulatory activities of NKT cells could be utilised as a viable strategy for the enhancement of local virus-specific immunity and thereby develop better genital herpes vaccines.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases DNA viruses
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
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.
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
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
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.