NKp46+CD3+ cells as a Novel Target for Vaccines Against Bovine TB

The Morrison and Vordermeier laboratories have recently identified a novel NKp46+CD3+ non-conventional T-cell population in cattle and demonstrated that a subset of these cells recognise phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIMs - a group of membrane bound lipids) from Mb. In this project we propose to i) examine NKp46+CD3+ T-cell responses during a BCG-immunisation/Mb-challenge study so as to gain some insights into the role of lipid-specific T-cells in bTB and ii) explore the breadth of lipids from TB that act as antigens for bovine T-cells and evaluate their potential as vaccine antigens. Specifically we aim to address the following questions: 1. What are the quantitative and kinetic ch…

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