3.4 Vaccine development
| Programme Title: | Immunology of bovine tuberculosis. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Bryce Buddle |
| Institution: | AgResearch, Wallaceville |
| Programme Goal: | To improve diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis. |
Objective 1
| Objective Title: | Immunology of bovine tuberculosis |
| Research Leader: | Dr Bryce Buddle |
Description:
Development and evaluation of diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and possums by;
- Determining the effectiveness of using a single antigen in the interferon- test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.
- Determining the immunodominant antigens reacting in seropositive tuberculous cattle.
- Determining the effect of cytokines on enhancing the sensitivity of diagnostic tests for detection of bovine tuberculosis.
- Establishing whether the addition of IL-2 to a sub-unit tuberculosis vaccine for cattle enhances immune responses and protection against bovine tuberculosis.
- Developing an assay for measuring cytotoxic T-cell responses to Mycobacterium bovis antigens in cattle to assist in vaccine development.
- Determining whether microencapsulated or lyophilised BCG vaccines enhance protection against bovine tuberculosis in possums.
- In collaboration with Massey University, determining whether multiple aerosolised vaccinations of possums with BCG enhance or inhibit protection and if an intraconjunctival M. bovis challenge or in-contact exposure with M. bovis establishes a more natural M. bovis infection.
Three papers will be submitted to refereed journals.
Objective 2
| Objective Title: | Possum immunology |
| Research Leader: | Dr Bryce Buddle |
Description
- Producing and characterising polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against possum IgA purified from possum milk and synthetic peptide fragments.
- Determining the adjuvant properties of recombinant IL-1 ß in possums.
- Determining whether BCG can act as a vector for immunising possums with a recombinant antigen.
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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