Researchers all over the world are seeking to develop an effective HIV-1 vaccine so as to prevent new cases of HIV-1 infection. Potential vaccines administered to humans in clinical trials were only found to provide partial protection against HIV in one out of six studies.

It was found that antibodies able to prevent cells from being infected with various variants of the virus played an important role in protection against HIV. This knowledge then helped researchers design and test HIV vaccines designed to potentiate these protective responses.

Plasmodium cynomolgi (P. cynomolgi) is nauw verwant aan de mensen malariaparasiet Plasmodium vivax. Deze parasiet veroorzaakt jaarlijks miljoenen ernstige ziektegevallen in endemische gebieden.

Vivax malaria is moeilijk te behandelen omdat de parasiet slapende stadia in de lever vormt die na verloop van langere tijd opnieuw een infectie kunnen veroorzaken. Er bestaat slechts één geneesmiddel tegen deze vorm van malaria. Dit middel kan vanwege ernstige bijwerkingen vaak niet worden gebruikt. Daarom is men naarstig op zoek naar nieuwe middelen.

There appears to be some evidence that people subconsciously choose partners who will give them children who are well prepared to fight off pathogens. A component of the immune system called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) plays a vital part in the recognition of pathogens.

Ondanks al het onderzoek naar neurodegeneratie, is er nog steeds geen optimaal werkend geneesmiddel voor de ziekte van Parkinson. Daarom is er een dringende behoefte aan nieuwe behandelmethodes, zoals neurofeedback van de EEG-hersenactiviteit voor aandoeningen van de hersenen. Neurofeedback stimuleert compensatiemechanismen van de hersenen om ze aan te passen aan veranderende situaties, waaronder de ziekte van Parkinson.

Ons lichaam moet virussen, bacteriën en parasieten kunnen herkennen en onderscheiden van eigen weefsels, om de ziekteverwekkers onschadelijk te maken zonder het eigen weefsels aan te vallen. Een zeer complex onderdeel van het immuunsysteem is hiervoor verantwoordelijk, het major histocompatibility complex (MHC).

• Read more about BPRC Annual Scientific Report 2016

To this day, our studies designed to formulate therapies for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are dependent on animal models. However, it is vital that the processes targeted by the therapies are identical in the human patient and in the animal model.

Several primate species all over the world are endangered. BPRC-affiliated researchers have developed a method that will help us protect these species in an animal-friendly manner.

Among other methods, we seek to preserve monkey species by breeding animals in zoos, then releasing them into the wild. It is vital that the monkeys be characterised genetically so as to be able to maintain a variety of genes within a population. Genetic diversity plays a role in partner selection, reproductive ability and protection against pathogens.

On 16 January 2017 Jaco Bakker successfully defended his thesis entitled 'Veterinary care and welfare management in common marmosets'

Certain diseases, including MS, show similar disease progression in common marmoset and humans. This is mainly due to a number of important biological features that are shared between common marmosets and humans. Marmosets therefore still play an important role as animal model in the development of therapies for a number of serious diseases in humans.

• Read more about BPRC Annual Scientific Report 2015