Nils Lycke receives SEK 30 million to his project, which aims to develop the next generation of oral vaccines against noro-and rotavirus infections. Norovirus causes gastroenteritis often called winter flu. Rotavirus is the major cause of diarrhea in children under three years of age, and which sometimes may devolop into serious illness, due to massive fluid loss. The research project is based on nanoparticle technology coupled with potent immune enhancer developed under the MIVAC project. The development of vaccines will be based on new detailed knowledge of the interaction between virus and host cell, and based on this knowledge effective protective vaccines will be developed. An interdisciplinary research team of complementary skills has been formed to implement the project. The team includes Göran Larson, Sahlgrenska Academy, Fredrik Höök, Chalmers and Lennart Svensson, Linköping University.
Ann-Mari Svennerholm receives SEK 25 million for her project on host-pathogen interactions between ETEC and cholera bacterium Vibrio cholerae. These bacteria are important causes of diarrheal illness and death in many developing countries. ETEC is also the most common cause of illness in travelers to these areas, so-called traveler’s diarrhea. Ann-Mari Svennerholm and her co-researcher colleagues will use the funding from SSF to in molecular terms elucidate infection biology of these bacterial pathogens and their interactions with the infected host. The appropriation will also go to the further development of a new effective drinkable vaccine against ETEC, and a simplified and drinkable cholera vaccine. Co-applicant for the project is Jan Holmgren, Michael Lebens, and Åsa Sjöling, all from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
