Leprosy Research Support; NIH NIAID # NO1-AI-25469
Mission
Statement:
To identify a new diagnostic
tool every year for the detection of early signs of leprosy infection,
diagnosis of sub-clinical disease and to monitor transmission of leprosy.
Statements
of Work:
1. Receive and process
5-6kg M. leprae infected animal tissues in order to supply qualified
users with a total of 10g per year of pure M. leprae bacterium.
2. Optimize M. leprae
purification procedures.
3. Provide both irradiated
and non-irradiated pure M.leprae bacterium to qualified users.
4. Isolate, prepare
and distribute M. leprae products (DNA, RNA, native and recombinant
proteins, protein subcellular fractions, carbohydrate antigens, lipid
fractions and lipoglycans).
5. Provide polyclonal
antisera and monoclonal antibodies.
6. Develop, prepare
and/or distribute novel reagents to advance leprosy research and control:
- Functional proteomics
and genomics
- Database
- Recombinant DNA constructs
- M. leprae mutant strains and clones
- Epidemiological tracking of strains
- Prediction, detection and prevention of nerve damage
- New drug, diagnostic and vaccine targets
- Improved diagnostic, treatment and prevention strategies
7. Development of pre-clinical
studies and clinical studies
8. Develop methods
for in-vitro culture of M. leprae (with collaborators)
9. Plan, support, and
conduct workshops to advance leprosy research
