Plymouth researchers at The Vaccine Group (TVG) are partnering with a world-leading animal health institute, The Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, on a new project to develop a vaccine against tuberculosis in cattle.
Together, the scientists will accelerate the development of a safe and effective vaccine against this high prevalence disease through the assessment of immunological responses.
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, causes significant losses in the farming industry, and has high prevalence in the UK and worldwide. The estimated cost to the UK alone per year is in excess of £100 million. As well as significant impacts on cattle, the disease can also affect humans. It is estimated that at least 10% of human TB cases are caused by zoonotic infection with Mycobacterium bovis. Controlling the disease in animals is therefore essential for both animal and human health.
Traditional disease control methods have proven ineffective, prompting the need for innovative solutions.
With funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), researchers led by Prof Jayne Hope (principal investigator of the Comparative Vaccinology and Immunology Group at The Roslin Institute), in collaboration with Prof Michael Jarvis (CSO) at TVG, supported by Edinburgh Innovations, aim to revolutionise cattle TB vaccine development. This BBSRC Impact Accelerator Award will support translational activities and engagement with TVG, and will generate important proof of concept data to accelerate the development of more effective bovine TB vaccines
Dr Salt (CEO) said: “We’re excited TVG is joining forces with The Roslin Institute to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in cattle health. Our expertise in vaccine technology, combined with Roslin’s groundbreaking research in the immunology of tuberculosis in cattle, presents a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against this devastating disease. Together, we’re committed to developing innovative solutions that will benefit both animals and communities globally.”
The project adopts a novel approach, utilising bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) as a platform for developing TB vaccines, leveraging recent advancements in TB vaccinology and cattle immunology. By harnessing TVG’s expertise in herpesvirus-based vaccine platforms, the team hopes to catalyse the development of a safe and effective TB vaccine.
Prof Jayne Hope said: ‘This is an exciting opportunity to work with TVG to understand the immune response induced in calves by a novel TB vaccine. Bovine TB is a devastating disease for cattle farmers and there is an urgent need for an effective vaccine that will give long-lived protective immunity. By harnessing bovine herpesvirus 4 as a delivery platform, we aim to develop a safe, highly effective vaccine strategy for bovine TB’.
The project is expected to take 12 months and will study the immune response to a novel vaccine candidate.