Single dose vaccine against bovine tick

• Grant number: 03/13390-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 2005
• End date: October 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Maciel Rodrigues Junior
• Grantee: Jose Maciel Rodrigues Junior
• Company: Nanocore Biotecnologia Ltda. - EPP
• City: Campinas

Abstract

Economic losses caused by ticks are difficult to evaluate, but it is estimated that in Brazil they reach a figure of US$ 1 billion, taking into account the loss of production of milk, meat and leather, mortality, the reduction in birthrate and the consumption of antitick insecticides, among others. The existing recombinant vaccines against the Boophilus microplus tick are imported and give a level of protection which varies between 50 and 70 per cent, but several application doses are needed, which raises the cost of administration. Due to this, researchers from Nanocore, in partnership with the Cuban Center for Biotechnology, holders of the commercial rights to the Gavac vaccine, developed two products which were patented and are in the optimization and pre-clinical evaluation phase. The first of these is an annual single-dose formulation and the second is an annual single-dose formulation associated with antiparasitics of a broad spectrum and wide use. This project aims to develop the large scale production of microspheres containing a recombinant protein, Bm86, associated with active broad spectrum immuno-enhancing drugs against ectoparasites, capable of providing a more effective response and offering greater facility in the management of animals. The advantage of an offer such as this should, above all, take into account the profile of the technology platform, since it should be possible to obtain different medicines and vaccines to meet the diversified demand for products of this nature. (AU)