Objective With the advent of adequate diagnostic tools, chronic trypanosomiasis due to T.evansi is being more and more recognized as an economically important disease. The immunosuppression induced by the trypanosome decreases the resistance to other disease and is responsible for vaccine failure. Moreover, the disease is responsable for widespread abortions even in animals with mild chronic infection (camels, swine and waterbuffalo). Under TSDI and TS2, reagents were generated for serological diagnosis for antigen detection by PCR and for identification of T.evansi. These reagents contributed to an awareness of the extent of infection. The study of the interaction between Trypanosomes and the host immune system has led to the discovery of Trypanosome factors responsible at least in part for.the pathological manifestations. These factors are : 1) a trypanosome immunosuppressive factor (TISF) responsible in vivo for the observed immunosuppression. 2) One or more trypanosome TNF inducing factors (TTIF). These factors have now been partially purified. The project aims at understanding how these factors interact with the host and with the trypanosome itself and whether immunisation against these factors will protect animals against the pathology induced by trypanosomes and in particular whether immunisation against the immunosuppressive factor will permit the infected animal to control the disease and eventually eliminate the infection. T.evansi being a very homogeneous special and being the sole trypanosome in many regions is also an ideal model system not only for animal but also for human trypanosomiasis. Three of the partners involved have actively participated in the development of the diagnostic and epidimiological tools necessary for this research. The fourth partner (Dublin) will contribute to the biochemical aspects of the problem. The framework of this project will be used to train scientists in the Biochemistry (Dublin) Immunology (Brussels and Dublin) and genetics of Trypansomes (Brussels). Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunisationmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccinesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Programme(s) FP3-STD 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the life sciences and technologies for developing countries, 1990-1994 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Vrije Universiteit Brussel EU contribution No data Address 65,Paardenstraat 1640 Rhode-Saint-Genèse Belgium See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Laboratoire Central Vétérinaire Mali EU contribution No data Address Route de Koulikoro 10 Bamako See on map Total cost No data Mahidol University Thailand EU contribution No data Address Rama VI Road 10400 Bangkok See on map Total cost No data THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN HEREINAFTER TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Ireland EU contribution No data Address College Green 4 DUBLIN See on map Total cost No data