Antigens, Allergens and Immune Responses in Normal and Crusted Scabies

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/137205

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Scabies (itch mite), a parasitic skin infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is a major problem among most children in many Aboriginal communities in Australia, often accompanied by streptococcal infections which cause serious diseases. Our world-first molecular studies utilised variable microsatellite markers to demonstrate that scabies mites on people are genetically distinct from those on dogs. This has important implications in control programs in Aboriginal communities. In our current NHMRC program we have cloned scabies antigens, with the aim of understanding more about immunity, which normally limits infestation from developing to the extreme levels seen in the debilitating disease crusted scabies. Our hypothesis is that crusted scabies is the consequence of an immune deficit in these patients. The first such cloned antigen is the equivalent of a known asthma-inducing allergen from a closely related housedust mite. We seek support to continue this successful program and to extend it to search for candidate vaccine antigens.The development of a vaccine would be a step of major importance in prevention. Recent reports estimate up to 300 million scabies cases worldwide, commonly associated with overcrowding and poverty. We are the first laboratory worldwide to have successfully initiated molecular studies on scabies. We have formed close collaborations with the only laboratory with an animal model (Arlian, USA), and the best group working on epidemiology and control of human scabies (Taplin, USA) and co-published with these groups. It is imperative that our NHMRC support be continued and increased to a level compatible with the importance, potential and achievements so far of this unique program.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $302,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Aboriginal health | allergy | cellular immunology | crusted scabies | humoral immunology | impetigo | rheumatic heart disease | scabies | vaccine research

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