ASSIST - Comprehensive approaches to understand streptococcal diseases and their sequelae to develop innovative strategies for diagnosis, therapy, prevention and control (Specific measures in support of international co-operation) (2007-01-01 - 2009-12-31)(»add to infobox)
ACRONYM:
ASSIST
BUDGET:
1.475.000 €
FUNDING:
1.475.000 €
INSTRUMENT:
Specific Targeted Research Project
PROGRAMME:
Specific measures in support of international co-operation
The disease burden of group A streptococcal infections worldwide is extremely high. More than 600 million persons, mostly children, suffer from streptococcal pharyngitis each year. There are 600 thousand cases of invasive disease. More serious are the sequelae of these infections in the form of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. About 15 million children are suffering from rheumatic heart disease, out of these, 6 million in India alone. Streptococcal diseases can be considered as one of the most important groups of neglected communicable diseases in India. There are many reasons for the inability to control GAS diseases in India. Besides poverty and living conditions, inadequate treatment and non-compliance with penicillin secondary prophylaxis after onset of rheumatic fever have all contributed to the high disease burden. The best perspective for controlling this disease is to develop a fast diagnostic test for rheumatogenic streptococci and to develop a region-specific vaccine ?
