Enteric Immunology - continued

A fundamental question in effective vaccine development is how to discriminate between those antigens that stimulate protective responses from those that induce ineffective responses. This is particularly problematic with antigenically complex pathogens e.g. bacterial and parasitic diseases. Various approaches are being taken, including fine definition of the nature of the protective response, and development of novel methods to identify protective antigens.

Our approach with the protozoan parasite Eimeria maxima (a serious gut disease of birds) is based upon parasite genetics, genetic fingerprinting and the use of selective barriers. This has identified that exchange of 5 regions of the genome between two immunologically distinct strains of the parasite are responsible for strain-specific protective immunity.

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Many diseases are transmitted to humans from birds and effective control of the diseases in birds is often the most appropriate approach to prevention of disease in man. Moreover, for some bird-specific diseases, vaccination would be the preferred disease control approach, especially to improve animal welfare and reduce the need for application of antimicrobial drugs to the human food chain. To do this effectively it is important to understand the similarities and differences in the immune system between birds and mammals and to use this knowledge to develop better vaccine approaches tailored for increased efficacy in birds. There are many similarities and differences in the structure and function of the immune system between birds and mammals including both adaptive (T and B cell) and innate compartments. For example, the repertoire of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) in birds includes many orthologues of those found in mammals but there are also some unique molecules that define the way that birds sense infectious challenge.

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Overall, the focus of our programme addresses fundamental mechanisms of immune induction, regulation, and particularly immune protective mechanisms that operate against gut pathogens. Much of the work is related to the function of various T cell compartments in the gut environment, with broad implications for both human and animal health.

Publications:

  • Smith, A.L. and Beal, R.K. 2008. The avian enteric immune system in health and disease. Avian Immunology (Davison, T.F., Kaspers, B. and Schat, K.A. eds.).  
  • Beal, R.K., Smith, A. 2007. Antibody response to Salmonella; its induction and role in protection against avian enteric Salmonellosis. Expert Rev. Anti Infect. Ther. 5, 873-881. [Abstract]. 
  • Beal, R.K., Powers, C., Davison, T.F., Barrow, P.A., Smith, A.L. 2006. Clearance of enteric Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in chickens is independent of B-cell function. Infect. Immun. 74, 1442-1444. [Abstract]. 
  • Beal, R.K., Powers, C., Wigley, P., Barrow, P.A., Kaiser, P., Smith, A.L 2005. A strong antigen-specific T-cell response is associated with age and genetically dependent resistance to avian enteric salmonellosis. Infect. Immun. 73, 7509-7516. [Abstract]. 
  • Wigley, P., Hulme, S.D., Powers, C., Beal, R.K., Berchieri, A., Jr., Smith, A., Barrow, P. 2005 Infection of the reproductive tract and eggs with Salmonella enterica serovar pullorum in the chicken is associated with suppression of cellular immunity at sexual maturity. Infect. Immun. 73, 2986-2990. [Abstract]. 
  • Philbin, V. J., M. Iqbal, Y. Boyd, M. J. Goodchild, R. K. Beal, N. Bumstead, J. Young, and A. L. Smith. 2005. Identification and characterization of a functional, alternatively spliced Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and genomic disruption of TLR8 in chickens. Immunology 114:507-21. [Abstract].