Objective
The pathogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum is thought to relate to the unique ability of infected erythrocytes to adhere to and subsequently activate the vascular endothelium. The primary process of cytoadherence has been studied in detail and a large number of receptors have been identified as being able to mediate binding of infected erythrocytes (IE). In addition the main ligand on the IE surface for adhesion has been identified as a variant surface protein, PfEMP1, such that antigenically variant parasites have different repertoires of host receptor usage. Host endothelia have differential receptor expression, for example cerebral endothelium has little or no CD36 which could influence parasite sequestration, limiting it to IE able to bind to other receptors.
Recently however sequestration of IE to brain endothelium by CD36-binding variants has been demonstrated in paediatric cerebral malaria through bridging by platelets. Our recent work has shown that levels of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) are elevated in malaria, indicating specific endothelial activation and providing a mechanism for platelet accumulation on endothelium.
The aims of this study are;
i) To confirm the increased expression of vWF in malaria.
ii) To elucidate its potential role in the platelet bridging adhesion mechanism, including vWF multimerisation and proteolytic turnover by ADAMTS13.
iii) To examine whether direct adhesion of IE to vWF takes place and, if so, its significance in paediatric disease.
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 health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
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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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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
United Kingdom
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.