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Upcoming PhD defenses

Several PhD's will be defended in 2012.
For more information see PhD theses



The Laboratory is looking for motivated PhD students.
For more information see vacancies.

Development of a vaccine against Ascaris suum


Background:

Ascaris suum is an intestinal parasitic nematode of the pig and is both morphologically and antigenically indistinguishable from Ascaris lumbricoides which infects over 1 billion humans worldwide. Infection with Ascaris suum has an immediate negative impact on human health (i.e. anaemia, diarrhoea, mall nutrition). In pigs, Ascaris suum is the most common parasite in Europe with a prevalence of more than 30%. Pigs with ascariosis have lesions in liver and lungs, the latter one causing a predisposition to viral and bacterial infections (Actinobacillus, influenza virus, porcine respiratory corona virus). Production losses are estimated to be 3 €/pig by the rejection of livers (10-20%), a 5% higher food conversion and a significant growth retardation (up to 20%).
Ascariosis is traditionally being controlled by mass therapy with anthelmintics. Despite the high efficacy of these products, the long term effect of the anthelmintics is disappointing and the problem with ascariosis is actually increasing. The most important reason for this is the high fecundity of Ascaris suum (a female worm can produce up to 800.000 eggs/day) which causes a highly contaminated environment and the short activity of the anthelmintics. Only vaccination could result in a long term, efficient control.
Previous experimental vaccines did not protect the pigs against the incoming larvae in the gut, resulting in no reduction of the histo-pathological liver and lung damage. The reason why all previously tested antigens have such a limited efficacy against the incoming larvae might be attributed to the screening methods used to identify them, i.e. with serum antibodies from immune animals. Such antibodies are mainly directed against larval antigens to which the host is exposed during the liver-lung migration. The chance to identify antigens from early larval stages that are important in the development of an intestinal immunity is very small.

Aim and Objectives

The main objective of this project is the development of an Ascaris suum vaccine that induces a pre-hepatic barrier. Therefore, a new screening method has been developed using local mucosal antibodies and antibody producing cells (ASC) from the local lymph nodes from naturally immunised animals to identify L3 stage larval antigens important in the development of intestinal immunity. These potential protective antigens are subsequently purified, characterised and tested in vaccination trials.


Contact
Prof. Dr. E. Claerebout
Prof. Dr. J. Vercruysse
Prof. Dr. P. Geldhof
J. Vlaminck