A Collaborative Initiative to Develop Animal Trypanosomiasis Vaccines in Brazil
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Institute of Infection and Global Health
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Romero-Ramirez A
(2022)
Vivaxin genes encode highly immunogenic, non-variant antigens on the Trypanosoma vivax cell-surface.
in PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Silva Pereira S
(2020)
Variant antigen diversity in Trypanosoma vivax is not driven by recombination.
in Nature communications
Silva Pereira S
(2022)
Transcriptomic profiling of Trypanosoma congolense mouthpart parasites from naturally infected flies.
in Parasites & vectors
| Description | This project set out to establish a relationship between the University of Liverpool and universities in Sao Paulo state that would sustain a full research proposal for the development of a vaccine against animal trypanosomiasis. One objective was for the bilateral exchange of junior researchers to gain insight and training into key skills pertinent to vaccine development (vaccination and challenge experiments in animals models and parasite genome analysis respectively). This has been achieved. Another objective was to identify antigens that would form the basis for renewed funding proposals; this has also been achieved. Materials (such as blood serum and parasite DNA/RNA) produced during the work are being used in further work to characterise antigens in the pathogen. This work is on-going. |
| Exploitation Route | We are using blood serum from the experiments to characterise host immune responses to our candidate antigens. We are using parasite DNA and RNA collected during the experiment to study the regulation of parasite antigen expression during infections. This work is on-going. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Brazilian trypanosome genetics |
| Organisation | Federal University of São Paulo |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have a collaboration with FUSP to examine genetic diversity among Brazilian trypanosomes. This collaboration has built up over the last five years through mutual exchanges of data and resources, culminating in a BBSRC Partnering Award this year. Young scientists from our lab have travelled to Sao Paulo previously and this award will ensure that students and early-career scientists continue to move between labs over the next two years. In the past, we have assisted the Brazilian group with genomic analysis of trypanosome strains that they have isolated, and we will be hosting Brazilian scientists in Liverpool during 2018 to continue this. |
| Collaborator Contribution | For our part, this collaboration enables us to examine antigenic diversity in Brazil and develop opportunities to develop a vaccine. Brazil is an excellent place to develop a trypanosomiasis vaccine because the parasites are relatively uniform and the disease has a major economic effect that should encourage industrial partners to engage. Our collaborators have provided clinical material for us to assay our antigenic arrays, and genetic material with which to produce antigenic repertoires. Currently, they are providing access to animal research facilities to carry out experimental infections to measure antigenic gene expression. |
| Impact | Manuscripts published, others in preparation. In 2019, a Brazilian postdoctoral researcher visited the University of Liverpool for three months and was trained in Bioinformatics, and subsequently obtained associated employment in Brazil afterwards. |
| Start Year | 2016 |