9:30 – 9:45 Registration
9:45 – 10:00 Introduction by the Chair: Professor Michael J. Day, University of Bristol, UK
10:00 – 10:30 Identification of the major allergens in saliva of Culicoides nubeculosus (biting midge).
Dr Doug Wilson, University of Bristol, UK
Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergy of horses to the bites of midges [Culicoides spp.]. Affected horses develop an acute phase response following intradermal challenge with Culicoides salivary gland proteins followed by a late phase response in which skin biopsies show increased numbers of infiltrating T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils and IgE producing B-cells. Symptoms include pruritis, hair loss, serous effusion and haemorrhage followed by a chronic dermal fibrosis, and hyperkeratosis. Current research has focused on identifying the abundant salivary gland proteins of Culicoides that act as allergens; with a long term goal of developing an effective immunotherapy for this condition.
10:30 – 11:00 Immunopathogenesis of equine allergic diseases: insect bite hypersensitivity
Dr Elaine Marti, Division of Clinical Research VPH, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is mainly caused by an immediate type hypersensitivity reaction to bites of insects of the genus Culicoides. IBH-affected horses have IgE antibodies against various salivary gland proteins from Culicoides and their basophils release histamine and sulfidoleukotrienes after stimulation with Culicoides extract. IBH does not occur in Iceland where Culicoides are absent. However, following importation into continental Europe where Culicoides are present, more than 50% of Icelandic horses develop IBH but fewer than 10% of their offspring born in Europe do so. Differences in the Culicoides-specific immune response between these two groups of horses will be presented.
11:00 – 11:05 Speakers photo
11:05 – 11:30 Mid-morning break and poster viewing
11:30 – 12:00 Genetics of Canine Atopic Dermatitis: A Suitable Model for the Human Condition?
Shona Wood, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Liverpool, UK
The use of canines as a model for human disease is advantageous because different breeds form genetically isolated populations in strong linkage disequilibrium. This is of benefit in genetic study because less genetic markers are required to find an association with the disease and smaller sample sizes can be used to find these associations, relative to human genetic studies. My work has focused on the identification of the genetic factors causing cAD. By using mRNA expression microarray, qPCR validation and literature searches candidate genes for cAD have been identified. Moreover a whole genome scan was performed using the Illumina SNP chip to identify potentially causative SNPs. These data informed a large scale case/control comparison of SNP frequencies using the Sequenom platform. I will discuss the results of this study in terms of the similarities with the human condition and the use of the dog as a disease model for humans.
12:00 – 12:30 The pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis
Dr Tim Nuttall, The University of Liverpool, UK
Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory dermatosis with a complex pathogenesis. It is possible that epidermal barrier defects enhance exposure to allergens, irritants and micro-organisms. Most cases possess IgE to environmental allergens (10-20% of cases appear to be non-allergic), which bind to FcεRI on Langerhans cells, enhancing allergen capture, and mast cells, mediating activation. Acute lesions are dominated by TH2-type chemokines and cytokines that recruit and activate eosinophils and other cells. Subsequent self-trauma, keratinocyte activation and microbial colonisation induce TH1-mediated chronic cell-mediated inflammation. Failure of T-regulatory cell mechanisms may prevent resolution.
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch and poster viewing
13:30 – 14:00 Talk Title to be confirmed
Dr Petra Roosje, University of Bern, Switzerland
14:00 – 14:30 Selected Oral Presentations
14:30 – 15:00 Mechanisms of allergy and their diagnostic relevance
Dr Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber, Imperial College, London, UK Allergy disease are caused by immunologic allergen tolerance. Recent developments in the understanding of the immune system dramatically changed our view on the cause of this loss of immune tolerance. Consequently diagnosis of this immunologic disease requires more comprehensive approaches.
15:00 Chairman's summing up & close
