Source: WSU Insider
Washington State University (WSU) researchers, led by Professor Kelly Brayton, have received an $800,000 grant to develop a safer and more effective vaccine for Anaplasma marginale, a tick-borne pathogen causing severe losses in the cattle industry worldwide. The project aims to overcome the limitations of current vaccines, which are ineffective against all strains and require impractical cold storage. The new DNA vaccine will use a “cocktail” of 10 antigens delivered via a gene gun, a method that may stimulate a more robust immune response and reduce the pathogen’s ability to adapt.
Initial tests will be conducted on controlled herds, followed by field trials in the U.S. and South Africa. Unlike traditional methods, WSU’s approach will use tick challenges to better mimic real-world conditions. This innovative strategy could not only combat Anaplasma marginale but also revolutionize vaccine development for other diseases, offering a comprehensive solution to the cattle industry’s challenges.
Read the full story HERE: https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/08/26/wsu-to-develop-advanced-vaccine-for-costly-tick-borne-pathogen/