To support research on the biology of T. parva and the identification of additional candidate vaccine antigens, this article reports on the sporozoite proteome as defined by LC–MS/MS analysis. Continue reading
There is inadequate herd and community level information on the impact of CBPP and its control by vaccination to allow adequate allocation of resources for CBPP control in affected ecosystems of Kenya. A study was designed in Narok district to provide this crucial information for the Maasai ecosystem. Continue reading
There is a great deal of similarity in the immunopathology, genomics and biology of T. parva and T. annulata. Similar protective immune responses are directed against the sporozoite and schizont stages of the parasites, and it is remarkable that many candidate sporozoite and schizont antigens are also so similar to each other. Hence, advances in development of subunit vaccines against one parasite species are likely to be readily applicable to the other. Continue reading
The ECF consortium is aiming at producing a vaccine that would trigger both an antibody response and a T cell dependent response. Thanks to the whole genome sequence of Theileria parva and its annotation, we have short listed hundreds of antigen candidates, but the number of antigen candidate that can be tested in cattle is limited. How do we narrow down the list of candidates to a handful that can be studied rigorously in live experiments? Continue reading
The recent meeting of the East Coast fever consortium, which brings together experts in immunology, parasitology and genomics from three continents (ILRI, Edinburgh, Antwerp, IGS, as well as the organization that produces the infection and treatment method (ITM) vaccine, provided a venue to discuss a way forward. Continue reading
As part of a BMGF-funded consortium a novel Next-generation-sequencing (NGS) approach to high-throughput MHC typing of cattle has been developed that allows rapid, cheap and high resolution characterisation of bovine MHC genotypes Continue reading
A recent review, as well as current studies in the primary literature, present examples of how cancer research can be used in the study of Theileria biology, suggesting that this might be a turning point that could revolutionize how T. parva infection is studied. Continue reading
We are here aiming to directly identify the parts or ‘antigens’ of the Theileria parva parasite that are visible to the cellular immune system during infection using a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry approach in order to inform the development of targeted vaccines against Theileriosis. Continue reading
The partial success of subunit vaccine candidates based on sporozoite proteins give rise to the belief that sporozoite surface antigens might constitute neutralizing vaccine candidates. This milestone together with the protective immunity of whole sporozoite infection and treatment vaccination can be further built upon in order to ultimately achieve protection against ECF infection with a multivalent subunit vaccine. Continue reading
In the last 9 years, yeast has been tested as a way to help immune cells see and react to human pathogens such as hepatitis C virus, and cancer. Yeast has also helped chickens survive coccidiosis and pigs survive porcine circovirus infection. We are now persuading yeast to wear a coat decorated with T. parva trophies and train cattle immune cells to react appropriately (in this case to kill T. parva). Continue reading
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