Technology Description
Oregon State University is seeking a licensee or collaborative research partner to develop a Mycobacterium bovis vaccine for the prevention of bovine tuberculosis. The vaccine is based on the discovery of bacterial surface antigens expressed during an infection. These surface antigens are present on bacteria transmitted from an infected host to an uninfected one. Work done in a mouse model of infection demonstrates the IgA response is superior (statistically significant) when the antigens are delivered into the airway, compared with intradermal immunization.
Features & Benefits
Applications
Background of Invention
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a significant zoonotic threat that not only leads to significant animal losses associated with substantial economic consequences, but also creates a high risk for humans. The impact of bTB is estimated at US $3 billion per year globally. Due to the fact that bovine tuberculosis is very challenging to diagnose and impractical to treat, vaccination is still the most feasible approach to control infection. Currently, there is no vaccine available for bTB. Although some countries still utilize the human Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine (bacillus Calmette-Guérin – BCG) to immunize cattle, current bTB incidences indicate that it does not protect animals from infection.