Fungal lectins as leads for the vaccination of sheep against Haemonchus contortus

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 12392.1;9 PFLS-LS

Short description (German)

Fungal lectins as leads for the vaccination of sheep against Haemonchus contortus

Short description (English)

Fungal lectins as leads for the vaccination of sheep against Haemonchus contortus

Abstract (German)

This project aims at the development of a novel vaccine against the blood sucking nematode ¿Haemonchus contortus¿, an economically important parasite of sheep. Research on the nematotoxic properties of fungal lectins and glycan-specific antibodies has revealed nematode-specific glyco epitopes on commercially available glycoproteins. These are tested in a proof-of-concept approach as hidden-antigen vaccines. This novel vaccine concept can be extended to other human and animal parasites and pathogens. Currently no vaccines exist for that purpose.

Abstract (English)

This project aims at the development of a novel vaccine against the blood sucking nematode ¿Haemonchus contortus¿, an economically important parasite of sheep. Research on the nematotoxic properties of fungal lectins and glycan-specific antibodies has revealed nematode-specific glyco epitopes on commercially available glycoproteins. These are tested in a proof-of-concept approach as hidden-antigen vaccines. This novel vaccine concept can be extended to other human and animal parasites and pathogens. Currently no vaccines exist for that purpose.