Released: Tuesday 11th June 2013

Scientists at the world renowned Moredun Research Institute in Scotland, have made a major breakthrough in the battle to prevent and control parasitic worm infections by successfully protecting sheep using vaccination. The team at Moredun have recently had their results published in the leading scientific journal Vaccine¹ and the paper reports the most successful attempt yet to protect animals against worms, using a laboratory produced vaccine, giving hope for a sustainable control strategy that does not rely on drugs.

Parasitic worms (nematodes) have profound effects on human and animal health and welfare worldwide: over 1 billion humans, primarily in the developing world, are affected by soil-transmitted nematodes. When measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years, their global impact is comparable to that of malaria or tuberculosis. Infection of livestock with closely related parasitic nematodes can have devastating effects on health and production, affecting food security in developed and developing regions. Despite decades of intensive research, the development of vaccines against these pathogens has been unsuccessful.Dr Alasdair Nisbet, who is heading up the research team at Moredun said, “Currently, these pathogens are controlled using drugs, however multi-drug resistant isolates are being reported with such frequency that development of a vaccine against this species is now a research priority”.

The approach taken by the team at Moredun involved identifying a number of key proteins which the worm produces, some of which enable it to escape the immune response and to survive and multiply within the animal.  By immunizing sheep with these key proteins the research team showed that the vaccinated animals had significantly reduced numbers of adult worms and eggs shed into the environme

1.       A.J. Nisbet, et al (2013) Successful immunization against a parasitic nematode by vaccination with recombinant proteins. Vaccine (In Press). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.05.026

 ENDS

 Notes to editors

·         Parasitic worms In sheep, the primary cause of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) in temperate regions worldwide is the nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta which lives in the animal’s stomach causing damage to the stomach lining, resulting in poor productivity, diarrhoea and, in some cases, death in lambs. PGE is estimated to cost the UK sheep industry in excess of £80 M per annum and, like all other nematodes of sheep, T. circumcincta is controlled by wormers; however, drug resistance is rife and multi-drug resistant isolates are being reported with such frequency that development of a vaccine against this species is now a research priority. Parasitic worms (nematodes) have profound effects on human and animal health and welfare worldwide: over 1 billion humans, primarily in the developing world, are affected by soil-transmitted nematodes. When measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years, their global impact is comparable to that of malaria or tuberculosis. Infection of livestock with closely related parasitic nematodes has devastating effects on health and production, affecting food security in developed and developing regions. Despite decades of intensive research, the development of vaccines against these pathogens has been unsuccessful. The challenges for development of such vaccines are considerable and include selection of appropriate vaccine components, optimization of the production of the components, identification of practicable delivery routes for sustained immune responses,   selection of appropriate model host systems and, ultimately, clinical development. 

·      Moredun Research Institute conducts internationally recognised research on the infectious diseases of livestock, caused by important viruses, bacteria and parasites. It employs 170 scientists, vets and support staff who continue to help find solutions for major challenges to modern farming such as the consequences of a changing climate; ensuring safe and sustainable food and water supplies conserving biodiversity and finding solutions to infectious disease. Today, many of the veterinary medicines and vaccines that are routinely used on farm have either been researched, developed or tested at Moredun. More information about the work of Moredun Research Institute can be found at www.moredun.ac.uk

For further information please contact:

Lee Innes

Communications Director

Moredun Foundation

Tel: 0131 445 6157

Fax: 0131 445 6111

Mobile: 07818 564954

E: lee.innes@moredun.ac.uk