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?

Generation of a protective responses without the presence of possible virulence factors and or components responsible for skin sensitisation. Replicating organisms are likely to give the best immune response but attenuated M bovis may interfere with diagnostic tests

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

That the M bovis antigens are presented in a similar way to how they are presented by M bovis

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

Generation of genetically modifies organisms (viruses or bacteria) expressing possible protective antigens of M bovis
Preparation of bacterial spores with the possible protective antigens of M.bovis adhered to the surface.

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

Identity of the protective antigens

Existing knowledge including successes and failures