Project Objectives

The primary objective of this proposal is to apply a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the spectrum of streptococcal diseases in India. A novel diagnostic test for rheumatogenic streptococci will be designed and candidates for development of region-specific group A streptococcal vaccines prototypes will be identified. A diagnostic test for rheumatogenic streptococci and development of an efficacious vaccine in India has never been attempted so far and is, therefore, a novel feature of this proposal. The specific objectives are:

Objective 1:

Epidemiological studies in defined areas in North and South India

Objective 2:

Genotyping of virulence strains obtained during the survey and expression profiling of representative strains

Objective 3:

Elucidation of nature and mechanisms of invasive diseases in India in comparison to European surveillance data

Objective 4:

Identification of genetic markers that contribute towards susceptibility to streptococcal infections in the two ethnically defined Indian populations

Objective 5:

Validation of the induction mechanisms of acute rheumatic fever in the Indian
scenario

Objective 6:

Rational design of a fast diagnostic test for the identification of streptococci capable of causing rheumatic fever based on the structural biology of collagen recognition

Objective 7:

 Identification of candidates to develop region-specific vaccine

Objective 8:

Communication of relevant information, transfer of technology and knowledge on new biotechnological approaches to governments, decision makers, international agencies and health authorities

Objective 9:

Training of young Indian scientists in the modern methodology established at the European partners’ institutes