Objective
To foster the development of a relevant animal model for human AIDS to study immunodeficiency virus pathogenesis, to evaluate the possibility of vaccines that will prevent the transmission of such viruses or protect against their pathogenic potential and to design and test therapeutic interventions, in particular immune-based strategies.
The concerted action (CA) was established to foster the development of a relevant animal model for human acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS to study immunodeficiency virus pathogenesis, to evaluate the possibility of vaccines that will prevent the transmission of such viruses or protect against their pathogenic potential and to design and test therapeutic interventions and in particular immune based strategies.
The simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strain SIVmac251/32 H was selected as the basis of a cooperative vaccine trial. This trial was conducted among 10 participating primate facilities in 6 European countries. Over 100 animals both rhesus and cynomolgus macaques were immunized or served as controls. Immunization began in 1990 with 3 types of antigen formulation and 4 adjuvant compositions. The experiment continued during 1991.
The results of the first cooperative vaccine trial were as follows:
more than 60 animals were protected against challenge with both homologous and heterologous simian immunodeficiency viruses;
partial protection was also achieved against infection with virus producing cells;
inactivated and split virus vaccines both protected monkeys against SIV infection;
the optimum antigen dose was found to be between 1 mg and 2 mg of viral material. 3 immunizations were as effective as 4;
the results obtained with rhesus or cynomolgous monkeys were comparable;
animals were protected for at least several months up to half a year after the last immunization;
the duration of protection depended on the type of adjuvant.
At that time this trial was certainly the most comprehensive and best designed experiment to evaluate the possibility of an AIDS vaccine.
Relevant animal models have been the pivotal technique in clinical microbiology to study pathogenesis and to develop effective measures such as vaccines and antimicrobial drugs to combat infections. Thus, an animal model relevant to human AIDS was urgently required. In 1987 it became apparent that such a model could be developed by infecting macaques with various simian (SIV) or human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV). Therefore, the Commission of the EC initiated a Concerted Action aimed to establish such a model. The founding meeting was attended by scientists from Deutsches Primatenzentrum (DPZ), Goettingen, TNO Primate Centre, Rijkswijk, Centre de Recherches du Service de Sante des Armees, Commissariat de l'Energie Atomique (CRSSA), Fontenay-aux-Roses near Paris, and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar near London. A concerted Action (CA) as well as a related Centralized Facility (CF) were set up. The DPZ was commissioned with the coordination and administration.
The programme started in 1988 and gradually the Concerted Action was joined by scientists from the Centre of Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR), Salisbury, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) in Langen near Frankfurt, the Gesellschaft fuer Straheln- und Umweltforschung (GSF), Neuherberg near Munich, the National Bacteriological Laboratory (NBL), Stockholm, and the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS), Rome.
The mission of the CA and CF was to:
- establish a relevant animal model for AIDS research by infection of macaque monkeys with HIV- and SIV-isolates;
- select a particular animal virus system and to jointly perform experiments into the pathogenesis of primate immunodeficiency viruses, vaccine development and possibilities of treatment;
- to set common standards in the envisioned animal experiments, in order to facilitate direct comparison of data obtained in individual European laboratories;
- to allow the confidential exchange of information on ongoing experiments in the participating centres sponsored by national resources to avoid unnecessary duplication.
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 basic medicine immunology immunisation
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine clinical microbiology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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
37077 GOETTINGEN
Germany
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.