Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | The combinatorial effect of memory T-cell, Neutralizing B-cell epitopes, and inactivated FMD virus on the duration of immunity against Foot-and-mouth disease virus |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Veterinary Immunology & Vaccine Development |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Bhure, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | sdbhure.biochemistry@yahoo.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control in endemic countries is an uphill task and poses a serious threat to farmers, livestock industries, and governments. The disease-free countries are following the “stamping out policy” which is inhumane and not practical if there happen to be multiple outbreaks. With a new “vaccination-to-live” policy by OIE, there is a need to develop an effective vaccine with thermostability and long-duration immunity for FMD control. Currently, the inactivated FMD vaccine containing three strains of FMDV O, A, and Asia-1 serotypes adjuvanted with mineral oil (Montanide, Seppic, France) is used in India and the world. This vaccine provides a short-term immunity of about 4-6 months in cattle. To have an effective vaccine with long-lasting immunity, one needs to have a better immunological memory and protective immunity. The protective immunity can be elicited by neutralizing antibodies from B-cells and has been studied exhaustively. However, the duration of immunity elicited through memory T-cell needs further research. In a recent study, FMD-specific CD4+ memory T-cells have been detected up to 4 years after vaccination (Mitoma et al., 2021). Currently, researchers are facing difficulties in developing an effective single vaccine for controlling FMD; the strategy of combining the two vaccine approaches to complement their inherent demerits will be the nearest way to make an effective FMD vaccine. With the use of peptide epitopes (both neutralizing B-cell epitopes and memory T-cell epitopes) along with the conventional inactivated trivalent FMD vaccine; we hypothesize that there will be a better/long-lasting immune response. Hence, the research proposal is being formulated with the main objectives to predict and/or collect available T-cell epitope(s) and neutralizing B-cell epitope information within the structural proteins in Indian serotypes of FMDV; and to study the adjuvanting effect of selected peptide epitopes in combination with the FMDV trivalent vaccine formulation. The main experiments include in silico prediction, selection of T-cell epitopes and neutralizing B-cell epitopes within the structural proteins of Indian serotypes of FMDV. Synthesis of selected peptide epitopes in multiple antigenic format/dendrimer. Preparation of FMDV trivalent vaccine and peptides formulations using a suitable adjuvant; immunization in Guinea pigs in different groups. Further, studies include assessing the optimum concentration of peptide epitopes for immunization in Guinea pigs, cytokine assays, assessment of neutralizing antibody response (VNT) and potency testing (Challenge studies) in guinea pigs. The project completion would generate in silico data on T-cell epitope(s) and neutralizing B-cell epitopes within the structural proteins of Indian serotypes of FMDV. The positive findings of the research proposal would give a candidate vaccine having an increased duration of immunity. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Bhanuprakash V, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh-560024, Dr. ChandraMohan S, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh-560024, Prof. Govindaraju T, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Karnataka560064, Dr. Sreenivasa B.P., ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh-560024 |
Total Budget (INR): | 69,16,140 |
Organizations involved