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Posted: 10th September 2024

Funding awarded for research into zoonotic pig disease
Streptococcus suis can be transferred to humans who handle livestock.
Streptococcus suis can be fatal to pigs.

A group of scientists has received government funding to develop a vaccine to tackle the bacterial infection Streptococcus suis.

Streptococcus suis is a bacterial infection that can cause serious, and often fatal, disease in pigs. It can also be transferred to humans who handle infected livestock.

It is one of the more common diseases affecting the UK pig population, as well as affecting over 60 per cent of pig farms in countries across Europe.

There are currently no proven vaccines for tackling the various strains of the disease.

The UK government is aiming to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in antibiotic use in livestock by 2030. The goal forms part of a global drive to tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now issued a £1m grant from its Farming Innovation Programme for the development of an effective vaccine against the disease.

The vaccine project is to be led by The Vaccine Group, the University of Plymouth and the University of Cambridge.

In previous research, the University of Cambridge and the University of Plymouth had identified a potential candidate for the Streptococcus suis vaccine. This vaccine would work by administering a harmless virus, which would generate a greater quantity of the proteins which induce an immune response.

The group will now investigate whether this existing vaccine candidate, which has been proven to be effective against a common strain of the disease, is also effective for use to protect pigs from multiple strains of the disease. By extension, this could prevent transmission to humans.

The research team will conduct trials in conjunction with animal health specialists from Moredun Scientific Ltd.

It will also engage directly with the pig farming community, ensuring the vaccine meets their requirements and can be administered in an efficient, cost-effective way.

Jeremy Salt, chief executive officer at The Vaccine Group, said: “As a zoonotic infection, there is also the risk of the disease being passed on to humans working in the industry.

“Our goal in developing an effective vaccine is stop the bacterial infection from developing in pigs and humans in the first place. By doing so, we can better protect the farmers, their animals and their livelihoods.”

Image © Shutterstock



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