Objetivo The main objectives can be summarized as follows :* To develop ELISA based diagnostic assays using recombinant antigens which are specific to the sporozoite, macroschizont and merozoite / piroplasm stages of the parasite.* To undertake vaccine trials using available candidate recombinant antigens with the aim of developing a sub-unit vaccine. These studies include the objective of determining the optimum delivery system.* To investigate the ability of recombinant candidate vaccine antigens to potentiate the protection provided by attenuated cell line vaccines.* To fully analyze the diversity of the candidate antigens within an endemic region.* To extend and develop the study of the population genetic structure of Theileria annulata in Tunisia and Morocco.* To investigate the potential of attenuated vaccines to revert to virulence after tick transmission.* To assess the effect of attenuated cell line vaccination on transmission rates of the parasite by the tick vector and evaluate the effect on genotypic variation.Expected OutcomeThe work carried out in this project will lead to a full evaluation of the potential for developing a sub-unit vaccine based on existing recombinant antigens and determine whether a search for further antigens is required. A second outcome will be the development of sensitive diagnostic ELISA tests which potentially distinguish between vaccinated and challenged animals and can be used for routine diagnosis, epidemiological studies and post vaccination analysis. The ability of current cell lines to revert to virulence will be determined and, if they are shown to retain low virulence, this will provide assurance on the safety of large scale vaccination which, coupled with the analysis of post-vaccination tick transmission rates, will allow a better understanding of the long term effects of vaccination on disease incidence. The outcomes obtained should lead to a better control, understanding and diagnosis of the disease which will provide significant benefit to countries where the disease is endemic.The main key activities will be :* The expression of recombinant sporozoite and merozoite antigens in E. coli and their evaluation in microtitre plate based ELISAs against a panel of defined sera to determine their species specificity and sensitivity. The cloning, sequencing and recombinant expression of an immuno-dominant macroschizont specific antigen gene and evaluation of its potential as an ELISA based diagnostic.* The expression of the candidate vaccine antigens in different viral and bacterial expression systems to produce sufficient material for small scale vaccination trials in cattle. The immune response (humoral and cellular) will be evaluated as well as a range of clinical parameters which will be measured after challenge. Different delivery and adjuvant systems will be tested and their role in eliciting an immune response / protection evaluated.* Inclusion of recombinant antigens (SPAG and Tams-1) with an attenuated cell line vaccine to determine whether these antigens can reduce the initial reaction to vaccination and potentiate protective immunity.* The collection of a series of parasite samples from the endemic region in Tunisia and the evaluation of the level of sequence and antigenic diversity in the sporozoite and merozoite antigen genes using a combination of PCR, RFLP, recombinant expression and Western blot techniques.* The Tunisian cell line vaccine will be evaluated for its ability to express 'virulence' markers (merozoite production and host metalloproteinase expression) and the clinical signs produced by vaccination. The effect of tick transmission of the vaccine on the virulence of the resulting sporozoites will then be determined by animal infection.* The effect of cell line vaccination of cattle in the field on the rate of transmission of the parasites by ticks will be evaluated by the measurement of tick infection rates both pre and post vaccination. Additionally, the effect of vaccination on the genotypic diversity of the parasite will be evaluated by PCR based genotyping of the parasite population in ticks. Ámbito científico natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAmedical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccinesagricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandry Programa(s) FP4-INCO - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations, 1994-1998 Tema(s) 03010205 - Animal production Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Bearsden Road G61 1QH GLASGOW Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (5) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo INSTITUT AGRONOMIQUE ET VETERINAIRE HASSAN II Marruecos Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 10101,Avenue Allal El Fassi, Rabat Institutes 10101 RABAT / AGDAL Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Institut Pasteur de Tunis Túnez Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 13,Place Pasteur 1002 Tunis - Belvedere Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht Países Bajos Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 1,Yalelaan 1 3508 TD Utrecht Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos UNIVERSITY OF YORK Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Heslington YORK Ver en el mapa Enlaces Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos Universität Bern Suiza Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 122,Langgasstrasse 3012 Bern Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos
