Using reverse vaccinology to identify novel antigens for vaccine development against Mannheimia haemolytica as a model for bacterial agents associated with bovine respiratory disease.
Mannheimia haemolytica is an important bacterial pathogen associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle. Also referred to as shipping fever, undifferentiated fever, or BRDcomplex, this condition is a significant health problem facing the North American cattle industry.
The economic losses it generates surpass those incurred by all other diseases of cattle combined, arising from production losses, treatment costs and mortalities.
| Date of Submission: | July 15, 2010 |
| Total Budget: | $526,000 |
| Total Amount Requested from Genome Alberta/ALMA (less than $500k): | $466,000 |
| Project Duration: | 3 years |
| Project Leader(s) | Tim McAllister Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada 5403 1st Avenue South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1 |
Andrew Potter VIDO University of Saskatchewan 120 Veterinary Road Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3 |
| Co-Applicants |
Trevor Alexander Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada 5403 1st Avenue South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1 |
Project Summary
Mannheimia haemolytica is an important bacterial pathogen associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle. Also referred to as shipping fever, undifferentiated fever, or BRDcomplex, this condition is a significant health problem facing the North American cattle industry. The economic losses it generates surpass those incurred by all other diseases of cattle combined, arising from production losses, treatment costs and mortalities.
The most widely used method to control BRD is antibiotic administration. However, concerns regarding the use of antibiotics in agriculture and antibiotic-resistant bacteria have given rise to the search for new mitigation strategies. While vaccines targeting M. haemolytica have previously been developed, their efficacy is variable. Part of the reason for this may be related to the extensive genetic diversity of M. haemolytica.
By focussing on conserved traits in pathogenic strains, it may be more feasible to develop a vaccine with broad protection against M. haemolytica. Current technologies for DNA sequencing allow for rapid bacterial genome analysis and comparison of similarities and differences between strains. It is our objective to sequence and compare the genomes of virulent and commensal strains of M. haemolytica in order to identify conserved antigens in virulent strains. Once established, target antigens will be used to develop a vaccine offering cattle protection against M. haemolytica-associated BRD. Because several bacteria
may be implicated in BRD, it is also our objective to use this project as a platform for developing vaccines against additional BRD-associated bacterial pathogens.
