Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Schistosomiasis is the most important helminth infection in the World. The development of a recombinant protein vaccine against schistosomiasis has the potential to provide a long-lasting decrease in disease spectrum and transmission. Our group has chosen to target the parasitic antigens Cathepsin B and Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) as vaccine candidates. We believe that immunization with either recombinant protein in the presence of an adjuvant can elicit protective immunity against Schistosoma infection. Therefore, mice will be immunized with formulations of protein plus adjuvant which will be followed by later booster injections. The immune response elicited by the immunization will be assessed by analyzing antibody presence and cytokine production. Furthermore, challenge infections will be performed in order to determine whether immunization reduces worm burden and egg production.