A 3D air-liquid interface airway epithelial cell model to study pathogen interactions within the bovine respiratory tract

Aims

The aim of the project is to develop a 3D bovine airway epithelial cell model at an air–liquid interface that will enable the complex interactions of bacteria and viruses within the bovine respiratory tract to be investigated, without the use of live animals.

Background

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a disease of cattle that involves complex interactions between different viral and bacterial pathogens. It causes significant economic losses to the cattle industry worldwide. Key to the development of vaccines and antimicrobials is a better understanding of the early events that take place when viruses and bacteria colonise the host respiratory tract. Methods that are currently available to do this are not well developed, and consequently a large number of experiments have to be done in cattle.

Research details and methods

Bronchi and trachea will be used from freshly slaughtered cattle at a local abattoir. Airway epithelial cells grown in submerged culture will be triggered to differentiate by creating an air-liquid interface. The epithelium will be biochemically, morphologically and functionally characterised to determine the optimum window for infection studies with a range of pathogens. Interactions between epithelial cells and pathogens will be assessed using quantitative and qualitative markers including expression of various cytokines. The aim is to provide a model that has the functional properties to replace in vivo studies.