Global Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Update and Gap Analysis: 6 - Immunology

Abstract

SummaryThis study assessed gaps and priorities for FMDV (foot-and-mouth disease virus) research in the field of immunology. The study took the form of a literature review (2011-15) combined with research updates collected in 2014 from 33 institutes from across the world. Findings were used to identify priority areas for future FMD research.Improved understanding of FMDV immunology facilitates the development of vaccines, adjuvants and diagnostic tests, and will allow better assessment and prediction of vaccine potency and match, with reduced use of animals, particularly large animals, in experimental studies.Continued characterization of the immune systems of several FMD host species has underpinned substantial advances in knowledge of their interaction with FMDV. Recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms underlying formation of the bovine B-and T-cell response; there is also a greater understanding of the significance of non-neutralizing antibodies during FMDV infection and the interactions of antibody-bound virus with immune cells. This knowledge is directly relevant to vaccine development, as well as understanding protection and crossprotection.Despite ongoing research, significant knowledge gaps remain in the areas of neonatal and mucosal immunity. The impact of maternally derived antibody upon the neonate's ability to respond to FMD vaccination has received some attention, but few firm conclusions can be drawn at this stage, and little is known of the cellular response of young animals in general. The mucosal immune system of FMDV-susceptible species requires continued characterization, especially if the potential of mucosal vaccine-delivery systems is to be realized for FMD immunization.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus: Immunobiology, Advances in Vaccines and Vaccination Strategies Addressing Vaccine Failures—An Indian Perspective

“…The search for an alternative vaccine or refinement of the existing vaccines suiting Indian conditions is ongoing. Advancements in vaccinology have paved way to designing and developing effective FMD vaccines by new approaches such as DNA vaccines, plant based edible vaccines, vectored vaccines, subunit vaccines, virus-like particles vaccines, peptide vaccines, and others [19,40,43,44,45,46,47]. However, their successful application as alternatives to the whole virus based conventional vaccine is still to be demonstrated.…”

Environmental persistence of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus applied to endemic regions

“…Research assessing environmental factors has been relatively absent since the mid-20th century, with the complete absence of data points for tropical climates. The most recent FMDV research has focused on the transmission and persistence within the host and some of the reservoir species (Robinson et al, 2016), with the latest environmental studies being executed primarily in laboratory settings (Bøtner & Belsham, 2012;Bravo De Rueda, De Jong, Eblé, & Dekker, 2015;McColl, Westbury, Kitching, & Lewis, 1995). As an environmentally stable virus (Martin et al, ), with a long history of endemicity on multiple continents, FMDV necessitates ongoing research for control and elimination, to reduce the economic and social ramifications caused by each outbreak.…”

Review on Outbreak Dynamics, the Endemic Serotypes, and Diversified Topotypic Profiles of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Isolates in Ethiopia from 2008 to 2018

“…On the one hand, many countries like Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico remained free from FMD disease [29]. On the other hand, some countries considered free of FMD disease perhaps experience periodic FMD outbreaks and are obligated to maintain their capacity for rapid detection and control [30]. Some African countries have also been vigorously working to eradicate this devastating disease even though most of the states have no, or ineffective, control policies and programs.…”