Development of an experimental transgenic mouse model for meningococcal colonisation and disease
Research archive
- University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
- Researchers:
Vidarsson G
- Project Number: 0201.0
- Category: Prevention
- Duration: 36 months
- Start Date: 01 January 2002
- Type: Scientific
Relevant animal models for the studies of meningococcal pathogenesis are only existing for infant rats or mice. Due to their nature, they are not suitable for vaccine protection studies, and they lack important molecules implicated in human meningococcal colonisation and disease.
The goal of the proposed research is to develop a meningococcal model of colonisation and invasive disease, using transgenic technology. This animal model will allow us to study the interactions of the bacteria with host tissues and the immune system. Importantly, this platform will allow various scientific questions to be asked and tested in vivo that will be invaluable for the study of meningococcal pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy studies.
Results from this study have been published in a scientific journal as follows:
Vidarsson G, Overbeeke N, Stemerding AM, Van den Dobbelsteen GP, van Ulsen P, van der Ley P, Kilian M, van de Winkel JG.
Working mechanism of immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease: cleavage of IgA1 antibody to Neisseria meningitidis PorA requires de novo synthesis of IgA1 Protease.
Infect Immun 2005 Oct;73(10):6721-6.
http://iai.asm.org/cgi/reprint/73/10/6721.pdf