Identification and Characterization of Protozoa PolypeptidesRecognized by T Cells

Information

  • NSF Award
  • 9005826
Owner
  • Award Id
    9005826
  • Award Effective Date
    9/1/1990 - 34 years ago
  • Award Expiration Date
    2/28/1994 - 30 years ago
  • Award Amount
    $ 249,997.00
  • Award Instrument
    Standard Grant

Identification and Characterization of Protozoa PolypeptidesRecognized by T Cells

Acquired immunity to Leishmaniasis is cell mediated (CMI) (4.5). Two subpopulation of CD4+T cells determine the outcome of disease by Leishmania infection. Cure in genetically resistant mice and immunity in vaccinated susceptible BALB/c H-2K mice correlates with the presence of a high frequency of Thy2+ CD4+T cell subsets (6.9). These observations raise the following questions: (i) What T cell epitopes are involved in the activation of protective versus disease promoting TH subsets?, and, (ii) What are the properties of the different T cell epitopes?, and, (iii) How do these epitopes influence the interaction of the MHC (Ia) molecule with the TCRa/B in order to selectively activate a TH subset? The above questions are amenable to investigation using Leishmania antigens. This is because, there are candidate Leishmania strain and stage specific antigens that either induce protective immunity or exacerbate disease by selectively activating a specific subset of primed TH cells (7,10,14). Therefore, we propose that the expression of the antigens is regulated in a stage and strain specific manner. The identification of these antigens and their genes from stage and strain specific cDNA library is possible. Sequence information and T cell proliferative assay would lead to the identification of the T cell epitopes. The presence of a relevant animal model, with a wealth of immunological information will facilitate the establishment of the relationship between antigen structure and function in vivo.

  • Program Officer
  • Min Amd Letter Date
    9/26/1990 - 34 years ago
  • Max Amd Letter Date
    6/21/1991 - 33 years ago
  • ARRA Amount

Institutions

  • Name
    Meharry Medical College
  • City
    Nashville
  • State
    TN
  • Country
    United States
  • Address
    1005 D. B. Todd Blvd
  • Postal Code
    372083501
  • Phone Number
    6153276703

Investigators

  • First Name
    Fernando
  • Last Name
    Villalta
  • Email Address
    fvillalta@mmc.edu
  • Start Date
    9/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
  • First Name
    Maria
  • Last Name
    Lima
  • Email Address
    mflima@.mmc.edu
  • Start Date
    9/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

FOA Information

  • Name
    Other Applications NEC
  • Code
    99
  • Name
    Life Science Other Medical
  • Code
    63

Program Element

  • Text
    RES IMPROVE IN MINORITY INSTIT
  • Code
    9130

Program Reference

  • Text
    RES IMPROVE IN MINORITY INSTIT
  • Code
    9130