Location: Animal Disease Research
Project Number: 2090-32000-040-001-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2013
End Date: Sep 30, 2022
Objective:
The focused goals of the USAID-FtF funded research is to develop a sustainable vaccine for East Coast Fever caused by Theileria Parva. This objective requires selection of appropriate T. parva antigens that induce appropriate cytotoxic lymphocyte responses and an appropriate vector or vectors to deliver antigens and therefore immunize.
Approach:
The approach to antigen discovery is twofold. One approach, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Maryland is comparative, global in silico genomic analysis of T. equi strains and in vivo analysis of the ability of T. parva antigens to induce cytotoxic and helper lymphocyte responses. Finally, a modified live vector that doesn’t cause disease, but induces appropriate immune responses will be utilized to deliver appropriate T. parva antigens.
