Next generation peste-des-petits ruminats (PPR) vaccines that differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA) - proof of concept in sheep

小反刍兽疫是一种发生在非洲和亚洲绵羊和山羊身上的高度传染性病毒性疾病。最近在北非、保加利亚和土耳其欧洲部分爆发的疫情对欧洲大陆和英国构成重大威胁。虽然有有效的减毒活疫苗，但这些疫苗和相关试验的主要缺点是无法区分接种疫苗动物的感染（DIVA）。因此，在不知道阳性动物是否接种疫苗或自然感染的情况下，几乎不可能评估现有小反刍兽疫疫苗的质量和疗效。这减缓了通过疫苗接种控制小反刍兽疫的实施。在现有的BBSRC资助下，我们开发了两种小反瘟减毒DIVA活疫苗及其配套试验。这两种方法都已经在山羊身上进行了成功的试验。该项目的目的是现在在绵羊身上测试这些疫苗，以促进疫苗生产商的许可和商业化。

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats in Africa, and Asia. Recent outbreaks in Northern Africa, Bulgaria and European part of Turkey represent a significant threat to mainland of Europe and UK. Although effective live attenuated vaccines are available, the critical drawback of these vaccines and associated tests is their inability to differentiate infection in vaccinated animals (DIVA). Therefore, it is almost impossible to assess the quality and efficacy of existing PPR vaccines without knowing whether positive animals are vaccinated or naturally infected. This slows down the implementation of PPR control through vaccination. In an existing BBSRC grant, we have developed two PPR live attenuated DIVA vaccines and their companion tests. Both of these have already been successfully tested in goats. The aim of this project is to now test these vaccines in sheep to facilitate the licensing and commercialisation by vaccine producers.