Objectives

1) Overcome the limitations of the old sporozoite seroneutralization assay, such as the use of fresh sporozoites and cells, long incubation periods and a difficult and time consuming read-out.

2) Generate an absolute quantification read-out for the assay using qPCR on p104 T. parva ORF. Quantitative assay, not only qualitative.

3) Reduction on animal usage in sporozoite subunit vaccine research.