BecA Hub in action Project Title:
Comparative genomics and structural modelling of salivary gland encoded genes for development of effective tick/pathogen combination vaccines
| Donor: | USAID |
|---|---|
| Partner/Institution: | |
| Project Highlight: | Tick-borne diseases of livestock are normally controlled by acaricides. However, this method is considered unsustainable due to acaricide resistance. Vaccination against ticks is a relatively novel method, but to date only a single vaccine, TickGard, has been produced and commercialised. TickGard is based on the BM86 hidden gut antigen of Boophilus microplus. In order to identify salivary gland antigens as an alternative to the gut antigen tick vaccine strategy, DNA sequences of salivary gland proteins have been isolated by ILRI and its collaborators. Firstly, Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) sequencing in collaboration with The Institute for Genomic Research [TIGR] (Nene et al.2004), and secondly, application of the signal sequence trap technique (Lambson et al. 2005). More analysis and comparison with EST datasets from other tick species is required in order to identify vaccine candidates. Bioinformatics provide powerful tools to discover candidates . |
| Total Project Budget $US: | 47,790.00 |
| Scientist Involved: | Etienne deVilliers, Richard Bishop |
| Scientist Email: | Email: e.villiers@cgiar.org, r.bishop @cgiar.org |
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