Dr Keith Ballingall
Address:
Moredun Research Institute
Pentlands Science Park
Bush Loan
Penicuik
Midlothian EH26 0PZ
Scotland
Telephone Number:
+44 (0)131 445 5111
Email address:
Keith's research interests are in molecular immunology and immunogenetics with a focus on genes and proteins in livestock populations controlling recognition and the responses to infection. His current research is directed towards the development and application of an MHC defined sheep resource flock. Such a resource will have a wide range of applications in defining the mechanisms of natural immunity and the identification of those pathogen antigens which stimulate protective responses. These may then be fed into the vaccine development pathway. Keith's additional interests are in the areas of genetics of disease resistance and the development of genotyping methodologies.
Current Research:
Keith is currently responsible for the development and curation of the immunopolymorphism database (IPD-MHC) for genes and alleles at MHC loci of sheep species and chairs the International Society for Animal Genetics/International Union of Immunological Societies Comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee.
Additional projects focus on characterising current levels of MHC diversity in UK, European and African sheep breeds and analysing links between MHC genetic diversity and resistance and susceptibility to infectious diseases of sheep.
Selected Key Publications:
Selected Key Publications
- Ballingall, K. T., & Tassi R. 2010. Sequence-based genotyping of the sheep MHC class II DRB1 locus. Immunogenetics. 62(1):31 - 39.
- Ballingall, K. T., Fardoe K., & McKeever D. J. 2008. Genomic organisation and allelic diversity within coding and non-coding regions of the Ovar-DRB1 locus. Immunogenetics. 60(2):95 - 103.
- Ballingall, K. T., Miltiadou D., Chai Z-W., Mclean K., Rocchi M., Yaga R., et al. 2008. Genetic and proteomic analysis of the MHC class I repertoire from four ovine haplotypes. Immunogenetics. 60(3-4):177 - 184.
- Ellis, S. A., & Ballingall K. T. 1999. Cattle MHC: evolution in action?. Immunological Reviews. 167(1):159 - 168.
- Miltiadou, D., Ballingall K. T., Ellis S. A., Russell G. C., & McKeever D. J. 2005. Haplotype characterization of transcribed ovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. Immunogenetics. 57(7):499 - 509.
- Ballingall, K. T., Luyai A., Rowlands G. J., Sales J., Musoke A. J., Morzaria S. P., et al. 2004. Bovine leukocyte antigen major histocompatibility complex class II DRB3*2703 and DRB3*1501 alleles are associated with variation in levels of protection against Theileria parva challenge following immunization with the sporozoite p67 antigen. Infection and Immunity. 72(5):2738 - 2741.
- Ballingall, K. T., Ellis S. A., MacHugh N. D., Archibald S. D., & McKeever D. J. 2004. The DY genes of the cattle MHC: expression and comparative analysis of an unusual class II MHC gene pair. Immunogenetics. 55(11):748 - 755.
- Ballingall, K. T., Waibochi L., McKeever D. J., Holmes E. C., Woelk C. H., MacHugh N. D., et al. 2001. The CD45 locus in cattle: allelic polymorphism and evidence for exceptional positive natural selection. Immunogenetics. 52(3-4):276 - 283.
- Ballingall, K T.., MacHugh N D.., Taracha E L.N.., Mertens B., & McKeever D J.. 2001. Transcription of the unique ruminant class II major histocompatibility complex-DYA andDIB genes in dendritic cells. European Journal of Immunology. 31(1):82 - 86.
- Ballingall, K. T., Mwangi D. M., MacHugh N. D., Taracha E. L. N., Totte P., & McKeever D. J. 2000. A highly sensitive, non-radioactive assay for T cell activation in cattle: applications in screening for antigens recognised by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Journal of Immunological Methods. 239(1-2):85 - 93.
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