The hunt is on for new vaccines that would protect cattle and bison against bovine TB and Johne’s disease.
The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) has developed a number of vaccines since its founding 40 years ago. The University of Saskatchewan-based centre has now been given $2.9 million from Genome Canada to develop vaccines against bovine TB and Johne’s disease.
Bovine tuberculosis affects the lungs of cattle and bison, and wild species such as deer and elk. It also can be transmitted to humans. Johne’s disease, caused by a related species of bacteria, results in chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract in cattle. It is a particular problem for dairy herds, causing the animals to sicken and sometimes die.
VIDO-InterVac researchers and their collaborators in Canada and Ireland aim to deliver two new vaccines for these costly mycobacterial diseases. The funding is part of a $7.4-million project being conducted over four years. The researchers plan to bring vaccines for both diseases to market within two years of the project’s end. — VIDO-InterVac release
