A team of scientists from the University of Queensland are now developing a vaccine that is protein-based and case be used for the treatment of lumpy skin disease. The team from UQ and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are working together to develop a single-dose vaccine to prevent the spread of the contagious viral disease that causes effect and swelling of the skin of cattle.
Although Australian farms are free of these diseases, according to the Professor from the UQ team, Professor Mahony, an outbreak of this disease in future could seriously affect the cattle industry. The goal is to develop a vaccine that could be used to prevent the spread of the disease in case of a severe outbreak in the future.
Specifically, the vaccine would be similar to the single-dose tick vaccine that UQ had developed in collaboration with Swinburne university a few years ago. Besides, protein-based vaccines have been shown to be effective and safe in ensuring control of the spread of various diseases. Meanwhile, there are also in-field diagnostics developed to ensure biosecurity methods are implemented effectively in case of an outbreak.
