Parasitology
Identification of candidate protective antigens for vaccination
against the bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus
Matthews, JB
Parasitic bronchitis is a serious disease of cattle caused by the lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus . A radiation-attenuated larval vaccine has been used for prevention of this disease, but has several disadvantages: a short shelf life and annual production necessitating sacrifice of donor calves.
Recent research has been directed at identifying components involved in survival of D. viviparus in the host and examining their potential as recombinant vaccine candidates. The excretory/secretory (ES) products of adult worms are an important source of candidate antigens. This project takes a unique immunological/proteomic approach to identifying adult ES components that may stimulate protection against infection in cattle.
Scientists at Moredun are identifying candidate protective antigens specifically recognised by immune but not by non-immune animals and characterising these antigens using state-of-the-art proteomics approaches. The cDNA's encoding a sub-set of these proteins are being cloned and the proteins expressed for future vaccine trials.