Vaccine research
We currently have three arms to our approach for the development of new vaccines with which to prevent strangles.
1. Through our in-house research we have identified several S. equi surface proteins, which are now being evaluated to determine if they protect horses from strangles. This work is being done in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company with the intention of developing the vaccine further should our studies be successful.
2. By exploiting the S. equi genome sequence, we have removed 6 genes from a virulent strain of S. equi to generate a new live strangles vaccine. The vaccine was shown to be safe and suitable for intramuscular administration in a study funded by the European Breeders fund. This prototype vaccine is now undergoing testing to establish if it protects horses from strangles thanks to funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
3. We also conduct contract research to assist pharmaceutical companies in the development of new strangles vaccines.
