Objective
HIV infection is one of the major global health problems of our times and one of the main priority research areas in EU policy for the FP6 program. Although natural immune control of HIV infection can occur, vaccine development has been hindered by difficulties in identifying what immune responses need to be induced. HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity plays a central role in control of HIV.
Thus, great variability exists between different CTL in their effectiveness. Recent studies have shown that MHC class I alleles (such as HLA-B57 in HIV infection) are associated with very successful control of viral replication. The dominant epitope targeted by B57-positive subjects is a peptide in p24 Gag, sequence TSTLQEQIAW (Gag residues 240-249), and in the great majority of cases the virus escapes recognition by CTL as a result of a mutation at residue 242 from ThrAsn (T242N).
However, control of HIV is still maintained well. Subsequent works of Dr. Prado has shown that a contributing factor to this sustained control of HIV by B57-positive subjects is the fact that this T242N mutation inflicts a cost to viral replicative capacity. Thus, immune control of a now attenuated HIV is achieved more readily by remaining B57-restricted CTL responses.
These studies together with further preliminary work indicate the importance of this mechanism of immune control. The main objectives of the proposal will be: to define further the CTL responses that are effective in control of HIV, and to explore the escape mutation s that inflict a significant cost to viral replicative capacity.
These objectives will be achieved with the incorporation of Dr Prado to the host institution to integrate her previous knowledge into a new research field. This information will be of direct relevance to vaccine design, and these data will indicate which CTL responses need to be induced by a vaccine.
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.
- 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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
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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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-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
OXFORD
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.