Author: Rachel Wood
Genetic locus linked to tolerance to East Coast fever
Researchers from the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Roslin Institute, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the University of Glasgow sought to understand whether regions of the cattle genome might predict the likelihood that an animal can survive East Coast fever, a disease caused by the parasite Theileria parva, transmitted by […]
Safety of ASFV vaccine candidate assessed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has announced that a vaccine candidate for African Swine Fever (ASF) has passed an important safety test required for regulatory approval. The test is an important milestone as part of a series of safety studies. These new results, published in Viruses, show that USDA’s live attenuated […]
MicroRNAs in milk could aid early diagnosis of bovine mastitis
Researchers at the Roslin Institute have determined that levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) in milk could be used as an accurate way to detect inflammation before clinical signs of mastitis are visible, potentially enabling rapid intervention to limit the impact of disease. The findings are published in Scientific Reports. The researchers studied levels of four types […]
Vehicles play an important role in PRRSV transmission
Researchers from North Carolina State University modelled different potential transmission routes for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and found that vehicles used to move not only animals, but also farm workers and feed, can be carriers for disease spread. Their findings are published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. The researchers modelled nine modes […]
Enterococcus strains in probiotics may carry antimicrobial resistance genes
Researchers at Kansas State University have discovered that Enterococcus faecium strains, isolated from commercial probiotic products for pigs and cattle, may pose risk to serve as a source of transmitting antimicrobial resistance genes to other gut bacteria. Their study is published in the Journal of Animal Science. Raghavendra Amachawadi, assistant professor of food animal therapeutics […]
Infectious bronchitis virus: reverse genetics system aids vaccine development
Researchers from The Pirbright Institute working to improve vaccines for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have developed a reverse genetics system, based on the pathogenic IBV strain M41, to identify genes which can be targeted for rational attenuation. Current vaccines for IBV are created by serial passage of virulent IBV field isolates through embryonated hens’ eggs. […]
Model suggests gene editing combined with vaccination could eliminate PRRS
Some livestock diseases could potentially be eradicated by introducing a proportion of animals that are genetically resistant to disease due to gene editing into some vaccinated herds, research led by the Roslin Institute suggests. A modelling study focusing on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences […]
Novel Hendra virus variant discovered in Australian horses
Research led by the University of Sydney has identified a new variant of the Hendra virus as a cause of fatal illness in Australian horses, and of risk for virus spillover into humans. The research is published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. In Australia, Hendra virus circulates among flying foxes and can be transmitted to horses. […]
Swine influenza: study examines the adaptive immune response of pigs
Researchers at the Pirbright Institute investigated the adaptive immune response of pigs to swine influenza virus and identified T cells which are important for fighting infection and for long term protection. Published in Mucosal Immunology, the study defines four different types of CD8 T cells and the tissues where the cells are found. Results showed […]
Stem cell lines to aid study of host-pathogen interactions in pigs
A method of producing immune cells from stem cells for research into pig infectious diseases is affordable, practical and ethical, a study led by scientists from the Roslin Institute suggests. The use of porcine pluripotent stem cell lines as a source of macrophages, is described in BMC Biology. Investigations using the technique will benefit from […]