Objective
Weapons of bioterrorism, such as the toxin-producing bacteria Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum, pose serious threats to Western societies. Since no products are available that allow rapid vaccination, exposed populations would be completely unp rotected. Even if a vaccine could be developed, active immunization would require multiple doses. Thereafter, it would take many months to achieve protective levels of antibodies and vaccination could only be applied to selected risk-groups. We have recent ly developed a model system in which Lactobacillus, a GRAS microorganism, can be transformed with antibody fragment encoding vectors. This allows the expression of functional single- chain antibodies against mucosal pathogens in situ. These antibody fragme nts retain their biological properties in vivo and may mitigate or prevent disease. The aim of this project is to select and characterize Lactobacilli with different tropisms and to develop the vector system currently used into a food-grade transformation/ integration/cleaning system that allows simultaneous expression of multiple antibody specificities. Furthermore, we intend to clone the genes encoding the variable region from hybridomas producing neutralizing antibodies against protective antigen (B. anth racis) and botulinum toxins (C. botulinum). These will be introduced into the selected Lactobacilli and the resulting transformants tested for their protective capacity in animal models. Our approach, which falls outside the domains of the FP6 thematic pri orities, represents a completely novel system for the induction of passive immunity that can be rapidly applied to populations at risk (for example through the drinking water). The transformed Lactobacilli will colonize the mucosa in exposed individuals, a llowing production of protective antibody fragments in situ. If successful, this project could be applied to therapy against a vast number of human/animal pathogens #
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes drinking water treatment processes
- social sciences political sciences political transitions terrorism
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunisation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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.
FP6-2003-NEST-A
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
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.