Our research focuses on the development of next-generation veterinary vaccines and biotherapeutics using a viral-vector platform based on bovine herpesvirus-4 (BoHV-4). BoHV-4 is a benign gammaherpesvirus originally isolated from cattle that can infect a range of domestic animal species and can be engineered to deliver vaccine antigens or therapeutic proteins in vivo.

Our lead programme targets bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), a major viral contributor to bovine respiratory disease (BRD), one of the most significant infectious disease complexes affecting cattle worldwide. A central limitation of existing vaccination strategies is reduced efficacy in young calves due to interference from maternally derived antibodies. Our work therefore focuses on developing vector-based vaccines capable of inducing effective immunity during this early-life window, when animals are most vulnerable to infection.

A second programme focuses on Streptococcus suis, an important bacterial pathogen of pigs responsible for meningitis, septicaemia, and arthritis, and a major contributor to antimicrobial use in swine production. Disease control is complicated by the large number of circulating serotypes and the limited cross-protective efficacy of currently available vaccines.

Both programmes are built on our BoHV-4 viral-vector platform, which enables stable insertion and expression of multiple genes and supports the induction of both antibody and T-cell immune responses. As a herpesvirus vector, BoHV-4 can accommodate relatively large genetic inserts and supports sustained antigen expression, enabling the design of multivalent vaccines capable of generating durable protective immunity.

In addition to vaccine antigens, the platform can be engineered to express functional therapeutic proteins within the inoculated animal, creating opportunities for the development of both vaccines and in vivo biotherapeutic approaches in veterinary medicine.

Beyond our lead programmes, the platform is also being explored for additional high-impact livestock diseases, including African swine fever (ASF), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), where improved vaccination strategies could contribute to more effective disease control.

Through collaboration with several research groups, a suite of tuneable BoHV-4-based vector constructs has been developed to address specific veterinary challenges across livestock species.