POTENT RABIES VACCINES FOR FREE RANGING CARNIVORES

狂犬病不仅是一个公共卫生问题，每年在全世界造成4万多人死亡，而且也是一个巨大的经济负担。仅在美国，每年用于控制、治疗和预防狂犬病的费用就超过10亿美元。在发展中国家，流浪狗是狂犬病的主要携带者，野生动物物种，特别是浣熊和臭鼬，占北美所有狂犬病病例的90%以上。口服免疫是控制和消灭流浪犬和野生动物狂犬病最有效的方法。不幸的是，目前可用的口服狂犬病疫苗在狗或臭鼬中诱导的免疫力不足。因此，本一期研究项目的目的是设计专门用于犬、浣熊和臭鼬的新型口服狂犬病疫苗，并首先在小鼠中测试其有效性和安全性。在该项目的第二阶段，将确定新开发的疫苗在目标物种（臭鼬、浣熊和狗）中的安全性和有效性。拟定商业应用：为了控制野生动物狂犬病和流浪狗狂犬病，必须开发更多的罐和成本效益的口服狂犬病疫苗。对这种疫苗的需求很大。

Rabies is not only a public health problem that causes more than 40,000 human deaths per year worldwide but also represents a tremendous economical burden. In the USA alone, in excess of I billion dollars is spent annually for control, treatment, and prevention of rabies. While in developing countries stray dogs are the major carriers of rabies wildlife species, in particular raccoons and skunks, account for more than 90% of all rabies cases in North America. Oral immunization is the most effective method to control and eradicate rabies in stray dogs and wildlife. Unfortunately, the currently available oral rabies vaccines induce insufficient immunity in dogs or skunks. Therefore, the purpose of this phase I research project is to design novel oral rabies vaccines specifically for dogs, raccoons and skunks and test their efficacy and safety first in mice. In the phase II of the project, safety and efficacy of the newly developed vaccines will be established in the target species (skunks, raccoons, and dogs). PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: In order to control wildlife rabies and rabies in stray dogs worldwide, more pots and cost effective oral rabies vaccines must be developed. There is a high demand for such vaccines.