SBIR-STTR Award

Tick-borne pathogens cause major economic losses to the livestock industry leading to an estimated $19.7 billion in losses for the U.S. including approximately $3 billion in losses for cattle producers. Among the 900 species of ticks the Asian long horned tick (ALT) an invasive non- native tick species poses a major threat to animal health and productivity in cattle and other livestock. Currently tick management includes inspection and chemical control and can be a tedious and expensive process for livestock producers. Unfortunately there are no vaccines in the U.S. that target ALT. Medgene Labs will develop the first U.S.-based ALT anti-tick vaccine which will be baculovirus derived and administered as a 1- or 2-dose regimen. This vaccine will significantly reduce the cost time and effort associated with herd management. This Phase I project will 1) develop a vaccine that targets ALT infestations and 2) assess the immunogenicity of the vaccine in cattle through serological assays. Successful completion of our Phase I project will generate critical proof-of-concept data to support larger vaccine study trials in Phase II to establish the utility of our vaccine against tick-borne disease in cattle and will provide a model for the development of effective vaccines against other tick species native to the U.S. Anticipated Phase II work will lead to submission of an Investigational New Animal Drug Application to the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and enable the rapid deployment of an ALT vaccine to prevent tick-borne illness.