Home / Science / UK Livestock Vaccines Get £4m Boost
UK Livestock Vaccines Get £4m Boost
20 Oct
Summary
- University of Surrey receives part of £4m fund for livestock vaccines.
- New mRNA vaccine platform to target E. coli in poultry.
- Project aims to reduce antibiotic reliance and combat resistance.
A significant £4 million fund has been allocated to develop crucial vaccines for livestock, with the University of Surrey receiving a portion of this investment. The initiative aims to confront growing biosecurity threats impacting the UK.
The university's research team will concentrate on creating an mRNA vaccine designed to protect poultry against avian pathogenic E. coli. This bacterium is responsible for severe infections in chickens, turkeys, and ducks.
This project is funded by the government and UK Research and Innovation. It will establish an mRNA vaccine platform applicable to various major livestock species. This platform is expected to aid in preparing for future epidemics, addressing antimicrobial resistance, and expediting the development of next-generation animal vaccines.
Further efforts will be directed towards developing vaccines for other high-priority livestock diseases. These include influenza A virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and bluetongue virus, according to university representatives.
