4 - DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINE AGAINST TB
4.1.1
| Objective Title:Immunology of bovine tuberculosis Research Leader: Dr B Buddle Institution:AgResearch |
Aim: Development and evaluation of tuberculosis vaccines and diagnostictests for cattle and possums.
Researchers will:
- whether sub-unit vaccines can protect cattle against bovine tuberculosis;
- whether intranasal vaccination of cattle with BCG will avoid inducing positive tuberculin skin test responses, but still protect against bovine tuberculosis;
- diagnostic tests using purified mycobacterial antigens to differentiate between BCG-vaccinated cattle with and without bovine tuberculosis;
- the pathogenesis of BCG infection in possums following BCG administration by intragastric and intraduodenal routes;
- whether microencapsulation can protect BCG from low pH conditions and if microencapsulated-BCG administered orally to possums can enhance protection against bovine tuberculosis; and
- bovine and possum macrophages for their production of lysosomal enzyme and cytokines, and for their ability to phagocytose and control Mycobacterium bovis growth.
4.1.2
| Objective Title:Possum immunology Research Leader: B Buddle Institution: AgResearch |
Aim:Develop vaccine delivery systems to induce high levels of antibody in possums. Identify possum cytokines which can be used as immunological adjuvants or are associated with high antibody production.
Researchers will:
- and characterize monoclonal antibodies to possum IgG, IgM and IgA and use these monoclonals to measure systemic and mucosal antibody response in possums vaccinated by subcutaneous and oral routes;
- recombinant possum inerleukin-1ß (1L -1ß) in Escherichi coli and yeast expression systems and determine the biological activity of this cytokine;
- recombinant possum tumour necrosis factor -(TNF -) and determine if this cytokine can act as immunological adjuvant when inoculated with an antigen;
- cDNA from possum macrophages for the cytokine IL-6 using primers designed from mammalian cytokine sequences; and
- whether possum IL-10 mRNA expression from lymphatic tissue is associated with antibody production.
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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