Key Points
Precision Vaccinology® is the combination of Next Generation Diagnostics and state of the art manufacturing.
Emerging and changing pathogens require precise diagnostics to ensure vaccines attack new disease challenges.
Next Generation Sequencing allows diagnosticians to identify all pathogens in a sample, and to characterize and compare isolates for use in a vaccine.
Virulence factors, selection of the proper adjuvant and route of administration are all key considerations for developing an autogenous vaccine5.
Introduction
Precision Vaccinology® at Cambridge Technologies combines next-generation diagnostics with state-of-the-art manufacturing to create a herd-specific, custom vaccine to help veterinarians prevent disease and possibly reduce dependence on antibiotics for bacterial pathogens. Since manufacturing and use of custom vaccines, also known as autogenous vaccines, was allowed with the 1985 amendments to the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act, manufacturers have continued to raise the bar in the areas of diagnostics and vaccine development, building vaccines that are increasingly targeted while maintaining required levels of safety. Precision Vaccinology® focuses on continuous improvement in herd health by seeking solutions for ongoing and emerging disease challenges.
The Role of Autogenous Vaccines
The AVMA encourages veterinarians using autogenous biologics to apply “sound scientific principles and good veterinary practice” when faced with situations where the autogenous vaccine is the only answer to a challenge or when the commercial vaccine is not effective2. For example, diseases caused by Mycoplasma hyosynoviae in swine, and Influenza D virus in cattle, do not currently have a commercial vaccine available. Bovine Respiratory Disease can evolve from a myriad of pathogenic causes, some of which only a custom vaccine can be built to meet the exact challenge affecting a herd.
Due to the lengthy process involved in developing and licensing a commercial vaccine, many of those products are built from master seeds that eventually become outdated. For example, Afghah, et al., reported that while commercial vaccines against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 have been effective in reducing clinical signs and improving production, the emergence of new viral variants has continued to increase1.
Cambridge Technologies’ custom vaccines are the result of innovative technology backed by years of experience. These vaccines are based on next-generation diagnostic techniques in order to formulate products that are precisely targeted against identified disease challenges. Precision Vaccinology® encompasses both diagnostics and manufacturing to provide veterinarians the solutions they need to win against disease.
Vaccine Formulation and Development
In order to work correctly, a vaccine needs to induce an effective immune response that can recognize the intended pathogen and act against it5. One key component of Precision Vaccinology® is the selection of isolates with appropriate virulence and pathogenic genes during the manufacturing process.
Toxins, proteins, etc., that have been identified as being part of the selected isolate would potentially be ideal to include in an inactivated vaccine in an attempt to selectively target the pathogen6. By developing an immune response to key virulence factors via vaccination, the pathogen can be rendered innocuous5.
Precision Vaccinology® also considers the adjuvant and route of administration to generate the best immune outcome. Certain adjuvants can enhance the immune response and/or aid in the administration of the antigen. There are multiple options to choose from when deciding on a route of administration, and often they can be chosen based on the preference of the particular farm that the product is being manufactured for. Custom vaccines can be developed for intranasal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous administration. Each route has unique advantages and drawbacks, and the relevant localized immune responses can be selectively enhanced based on the selected administration method5. Cambridge Technologies technical staff works with the herd veterinarian to select the most appropriate adjuvant and route of administration.
Additionally, for bovine, Cambridge can provide a SoliDose® implantable custom vaccine that delivers 2 doses of vaccine in one implant, utilizing proprietary immediate release and prolonged release pellets.
Conclusion
Precision Vaccinology® raises the bar in the creation of herd-specific, custom vaccines. These vaccines are constantly evolving in terms of diagnostics/isolate selection, method and timing of administration, and flexibility. As new challenges evolve and new strains of known diseases are discovered, custom products continue to grow in importance. Backed by science and based on veterinary experience in the field, the next generation of custom vaccines is here and Cambridge Technologies is here to provide them to veterinarians and producers with a fast, flexible and uncomplicated process.
Resources
- Afghan Z, Webb B, Meng X, Ramamoorthy S. Ten years of PCV2 vaccines and vaccination: Is eradication a possibility? Veterinary Microbiology. 2017; 206:21-28.
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Guidelines for Use of Autogenous Biologics.
- Engels J. Bovine salmonellosis and the challenge of developing cross-protective vaccines for this disease. Master’s Thesis, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. 2017.
- Hematian A, Sadeghifard N, Mohebi R, Taherikalani M, Nasrolahi A, Amraei M, Ghafourian S. Traditional and modern cell culture in virus diagnostics. Osong Public Health Res Pesrspect. 2016; 7(2):77-82.
- Hoft D, Brusic V, Sakala I. Optimizing vaccine development. Cellular Microbiology. 2011; 13(7):934-942.
- Lipsitch M, Siber G. How can vaccines contribute to solving the antimicrobial resistance problem? mBio. 2016; 7(3):e00428-16.
- Van Borm S, Belak S, Freimanis G, Fusaro A, Granberg F, Hoper D, King D, Monne I, Orton R, Rosseel T. Next-generation sequencing in veterinary medicine: How can the massive amount of information arising from high-throughput technologies improve diagnosis, control, and management of infectious disease? In: Cunha M, Inacio J (eds) Veterinary Infection Biology: Molecular Diagnostics and High-Throughput Strategies. Methods in Molecular Biology (Methods and Protocols). 2015; 1247:415-436. Humana Press, New York, NY.
