Abstract
Tick vaccine research in Australia has demonstrated leadership worldwide through the development of the first anti-tick vaccine in the 1990s. Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) research led to the development of vaccines and/or precursors of vaccines (such as crude extracts) for both the cattle tick and the paralysis tick. CSIRO commercialised the Bm86 vaccine in the early 1990s for Rhipicephalus australis; however, issues with dosing and lack of global conservation led to the market closure of Tick-GARD in Australia. New research programs arose both locally and globally. The Australian paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus has perplexed research veterinarians since the 1920s; however, not until the 2000s did biotechnology exist to elucidate the neurotoxin—holocyclotoxin family of toxins leading to a proof of concept vaccine cocktail. This review revisits these discoveries and describes tributes to deceased tick vaccine protagonists in Australia, including Sir Clunies Ross, Dr Bernard Stone and Dr David Kemp.
Highlights
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods, which have evolved with animal hosts
This review reports Australian research capacity in the development of anti-tick vaccines throughout the 19th–20th Century with considerable efforts from the 1980s to date
The research by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) described the impact of Australian research on the development of anti-tick vaccines
Summary
Ticks are hematophagous (bloodsucking) arthropods, which have evolved with animal hosts. Unlike the cattle tick R. microplus, which is a one host tick species specific to cattle to complete their life cycle, I. holocyclus has a three-host life cycle, including hosts, such as Australian wildlife, and humans, livestock and companion animals as primary and incidental hosts, respectively [13]. Other vaccine approaches have focused on secreted salivary antigens, which are assumed to be recognised by the host during the natural challenge and, may potentially boost vaccine responses [19] This is relevant for tick species whose tick stages feed on their hosts for shorter periods, i.e., I. holocyclus [17,20]; these approaches have been applied in the discovery of R. microplus antigens [19]. Attempts to develop a canine anti-paralysis tick vaccine were reported in the 1980s in Australia through research, originally led by CSIRO [20]. This review reports Australian research capacity in the development of anti-tick vaccines throughout the 19th–20th Century with considerable efforts from the 1980s to date
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
