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DEFRA - VLA Post-Genomics Project
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PROJEKT: We are part of a DEFRA (http://www.defra.gov.uk/) funded project on the application of postgenomics to reveal the genetic and physiological basis of virulence, pathogenesis and transmissability of Mycobaterium bovis. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA - http://www.defra.gov.uk/vla), Weybridge.
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There has been a sharp increase in bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain and which highlighted the need for improved strategies and tools for disease control including improved diagnostic tests and vaccines for cattle and badgers. An improved fundamental understanding of the pathogenesis of M. bovis in cattle and its transmission is also required to provide a stronger scientific basis for advising farmers on how to limit the spread of infection.
TB is characterised by a dynamic interaction between pathogen and host, the outcome of which may lead to protection, disease or long-term persistent infection. For both the bacterium and host immune system, this is achieved through highly evolved patterns of gene expression, responding to specific environmental cues. It is influenced by the genotypes of host and pathogen, and by environmental factors (the immunological status of the host, cross-reactive immunity; the infective dose etc).
The availability of genome sequences of relevant pathogens and hosts now provides us with the opportunity to take a new approach to understanding the biology of infection, rather than looking at single genes and proteins. The aim of understanding every gene, protein and pathway in M. bovis is unrealistic; it is therefore essential to focus on important biological features that are tractable to functional genomics. A deeper knowledge of the complex relationship between the pathogen and its host will allow the development of more sophisticated intervention strategies.
The focus of the Rostock group, which is part of this initiative is to analyse DNA microarray data, develop methodologies and tools for the pre-processing (i.e., normalisation, filtering, quality control), clustering, classification and identification of gene networks.
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Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IuK) 
für Projekte
informatik.uni-rostock.de
