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Characterisation of the interaction between viral antigens and lymphoid tissue

Lead Research Organisation: THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE
Department Name: UNLISTED

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.

Technical Summary

Dendritic cells (DC) are unique in their capacity to stimulate responses of naive T lymphocytes and are central to the induction of immune responses. DC are therefore a pivotal control point determining the outcome of infectious challenge or vaccination. The potential to manipulate or target DC in vaccination strategies is of significant importance. A model in which afferent lymph draining the skin of cattle is collected by cannulation after removal of the prescapular lymph nodes allows the isolation of large numbers of afferent lymph DC (ALDC) without the need for lengthy isolation procedures or culture in a way that is not possible in mice or in humans. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies, we will determine whether targeting DC subsets with specific antigen can stimulate enhanced protective immune responses and so influence rational vaccine design.

Planned Impact

unavailable

Publications

10 25 50

publication icon
Guzman E (2014) Bovine ?d T cells are a major regulatory T cell subset. in Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

 
Description This award is an element of the long term strategic funding to the Pirbright institute with the aim to developing knowledge to understand the immune response in a major livestock species, cattle. During the course of these studies we have developed a range of new reagents and assays to measure different aspects of cellular and antibody responses. The results have been published in peer reviewed scientific journals and have helped develop correlates of protection for a number of different pathogens. The assays and reagents developed have been essential to attract funding and support for disease specific programmes of work, for example development of vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease, respiratory syncytial virus and bovine tuberculosis. In addition, we have identified and characterised rare but critical cells for immune function in cattle, including dendritic cells in pseudo afferent lymph.
Exploitation Route There are a number of examples of how the results of these studies have been critical to help design and evaluate vaccines and resulted in substantial support from funding bodies and industry. Through these studies we dissected the interaction between viral vectors vaccines and dendritic cells draining from the skin in lymph. We have revealed that some of these vectors efficiently target antigen to the dendritic cells for presentation to T cells and some induce apoptosis which compromises the induction of immune responses.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Healthcare