Objective
HIV infection in humans induces chronic changes in the phenotype and function of CD4, CD8 and Dendritic Cells, which are only partly restored after the initiation of HAART. In order to alleviate the permanent dependency on HAART, alternative therapies whos e goal is to restore normal immune functions must be developed. Attenuated pox-viruses are currently under evaluation as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against AIDS. Development of a successful pox-virus vaccine is still a significant challenge due t o the nature of HIV-1 infection, despite the fact that pox-virus vector vaccines can induce potent immune response and have been developed for large scale vaccine production using GMP conditions. In this project, we shall exploit this knowledge and employ high level bioengineering to create a pox-virus vector that encodes, in addition to some HIV-1 proteins, a fully functional lentiviral vector genome delivering heterologous genes with HIV inhibitory capacity. Cells infected with Modified Vaccinia Ankara (M VA) will simultaneously be converted into packaging cells capable of releasing transducing particles and cells expressing HIV-1 proteins for the stimulation of antigen specific cells. Consequently, the Pox-Gene vector will serve a dual role as a therapeuti c vaccine and as in vivo gene therapy. The transducing particles released in vivo will protect naïve, memory and activated T cells (including HIV antigen-specific T cells) from HIV infection. Over the course of this project we shall demonstrate the Pox-Gen e efficiency for transduction of T cells in vitro and in vivo using marker genes. Finally after proof of concept has been obtained in mice we will perform a small pilot study in SHIV infected macaque. This approach should elicit significant improvement in the management of HIV infection and reduce the costs by limiting dependency on HAART. Most importantly, the Pox-Gene vector has the potential for world-wide application, including use in developing countries.
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 medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunisation
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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.
FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5
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
RIJSWIJK
Netherlands
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.