Following the successful review of our pre-proposal we have been invited to submit a full proposal to the following research call; International Coordination of research on infectious animal disease.

Completed proposal must be submitted by the 18th July

The aim of the project is as described below
Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis and causes high mortality in unvaccinated domestic and wild herbivores and can also be transmitted to humans. Anthrax spores can survive in the environment for decades, making control and eradication challenging. Animal vaccines have proven to be an effective control measure in areas which can afford to deploy them. In areas that cannot, recurrent infections are an on-going problem and represent an eco-system from which vaccine resistant variants could emerge and spread. In addition, climate change has seen the recent re-emergence of the disease in regions such of Siberia where spores had previously been trapped in the permafrost. It is possible that some of these spores represent naturally occurring vaccine resistant variants. Laboratory data indicates that variants of the pathogen differ in their ability to infect animals and in some cases defeat vaccines. Given that the pathogen is not thought to replicate outside of an infected host the mechanisms by which mutations occur is unclear but sub-clinical infections may play a role. Given the negative consequences of the emergence of a vaccine resistant strain on animal and human health there is a need to better understand the biology and genetics of B. anthracis to determine the potential for the emergence of naturally occurring strains. We will employ a combination of whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics to screen naturally occurring mutants in historical samples for the presence of mutations which effect virulence and vaccine sensitivity. Using an array of immunological tools, we will screen unvaccinated cattle for evidence of subclinical infections in the form of toxin specific antibodies and will assess their specificity and ability to confer protection against re-exposure to the pathogen. The results will give us a better understanding of the ability of the pathogen to mutate and will provide information to underpin the development of next generation vaccines.

We are seeking a research partner to transition the vaccine targets developed by the other consortium members into viable vaccine candidate.
The ideal partner would have a track record of manufacturing and developing animal vaccines including anthrax vaccine.

More information can be found here: https://www.era-learn.eu/netwo...