Objective
Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease in the developing world and is largely chronic in nature. Helminth infections, such as Schistosoma sp., often cause down-regulation of the adaptive immune response possibly through long-term, or repeated stimulation of the innate immune system following binding of parasite molecules to a limited number of innate receptors (e.g. Toll-like receptors). This aspect of the immune system represents a novel route to exploit in future control programs.
Therefore, our proposal has four objectives.
1. We will investigate differences in the innate immune response, specifically of innate receptors in groups of individuals with different histories of infection and extent of pathology, which will be further dissected in models of infection.
2 Glycan structures on molecules released by schistosomes are important candidate ligands of host innate receptors and so will be characterised, isolated and synthesised.
3 Isolated molecules will be tested using human in vitro assays and in vivo model systems, to identify those molecules with the greatest capacity to enhance or regulate immune responsiveness. These molecules bear promise as potential adjuvants in drug and vaccine control programmes, or as therapeutics to control pathology.
4 Finally, Geographical Information Systems will be applied to link features of the innate immune response to the history of exposure, and expression of pathology.
This framework will facilitate the implementation of drug and vaccine control programmes to those most at risk. The proposal is based upon a multidisciplinary and integrated consortium bringing together field based researchers (epidemiologists, health care workers), statisticians, and basic scientists (immunologists, biochemists) from 3 African and 3 European countries. Together, the partners will deliver an innovative project that will identify novel strategies that will aid the control of schistosomiasis.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistory
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology
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Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP6-2004-INCO-DEV-3
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
STREP - Specific Targeted Research ProjectCoordinator
YORK
United Kingdom