麻豆淫院

The world's first vaccine trial against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV)鈥攁 leading cause of death in young Asian elephants鈥攊s safe and triggers a strong virus-fighting immune response, according to an international team led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with Chester Zoo and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Published in Nature Communications, the proof鈥憃f鈥慶oncept study involved adult elephants at Chester Zoo. No side effects were seen, and the vaccine successfully activated a key part of the immune system that helps fight viruses.

The elephants received a two鈥憇tep vaccination: first, a viral vector carrying two EEHV proteins (EE2 and major capsid protein), then a booster with purified proteins plus an adjuvant to strengthen the response.

Blood samples were tested in various ways, including using whole transcriptome sequencing to see which immune pathways were switched on鈥攖he first time such systematic immune profiling has been carried out in elephants.

The results suggest the vaccine could prevent deadly EEHV disease in calves鈥攖he group most at risk鈥攁nd support conservation breeding programs worldwide.

Professor Falko Steinbach, senior author of the study and Professor of Veterinary Immunology at the University of Surrey, said,

"This is a landmark moment in our work to develop safe and efficacious vaccines. For the first time, we have shown in elephants that a vaccine can trigger the type of immune response needed to protect them against EEHV."

Dr. Tanja Maehr, lead author of the study from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said, "Our findings give real hope that vaccination can become a practical tool for preventing severe disease and death due to EEHV. The next step could be to trial the vaccine in calves and in range countries, so we can begin to protect those most at risk."

The vaccine particularly activated two key types of immune cells鈥擟D4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells (often called "helper" and "killer" cells)鈥攖hat mediate the immune system's fight against viruses. Systems immunology analysis鈥攃arried out in partnership between the University of Surrey and S茫o Paulo鈥攃onfirmed the broad activation of anti-viral immunity.

These findings show that a two鈥憇tep vaccine can safely inform the elephant's immune system to fight EEHV.

Dr. Katie Edwards, Lead Conservation Scientist at Chester Zoo, said, "This vaccine has been in development for several years and was first delivered to an elephant here at Chester Zoo in 2021. This publication marks a watershed moment.

"EEHV has taken the lives of so many elephants, both in human care and in the wild, but this vaccine offers hope. We can't yet say this will be the end of EEHV deaths, but we have taken a massive step towards that goal."