Roadmap for the development of candidate vaccine for bTB

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Infection with M. bovis or vaccination with BCG results in positive skin responses to PPD. Identification of factors
responsible for the skin sensitisation would allow them to be removed and if not contributing to immunity can be removed from rationally attenuated vaccine candidates.

What are the scientific and technological challenges
(knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

Skin sensitisation may be the result of several factors interacting

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

• Characterisation of PPD
• Identify the factors responsible for causing skin sensitisation and their genes (fractionation and use in sensitised animals – identify the amino acid sequences – identify the genes).

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

A better understanding of host responses and host-pathogen interactions

Existing knowledge including successes and failures