Vaccine Immunogenicity assay in bovines against fasciola hepatica

Abstract

Fasciolosis affects cattle health and production around the world, resulting in economic loss for farmers. Current treatment against this parasite in cattle is based in drugs, which do not prevent infection and/or liver damage. In this work, we present the results of immunogenicity assays by ELISA which will lead to vaccine trials against F. hepatica with a Uruguayan and native plant derived adjuvant. Using four different vaccine formulations and a total of 27 cows, my PhD project currently aims to select the best formulation through ELISA studies from blood samples collected in 2021. The novel natural adjuvant production system (ISCOM) shows a promising replacement for current synthetic adjuvants due to its protective properties. Also, the vaccine formulations are produced with recombinant proteins that are present in the parasite (FhLAP1, FhLAP2, FhStf1 and FhStf2).With these results that I will present in my poster, I will further analyze samples through RNA seq. so that I can select the best formulation for a first vaccine trial and fasciola hepatica infection in 2023.