It is thanks to work in animal health and veterinary science that we know first of all that coronavirus vaccines are achievable
By-MICHAEL FRANCIS
5th June 2020
• Pashudhan Praharee Network.
An lab technician examines monkey kidney cells as he tests an experimental vaccine for the Covid-19
Almost as soon as the novel coronavirus outbreak emerged, the word “zoonotic” entered the lexicon. Scientists quickly identified that Covid-19 was most likely to have originated in wild animals, probably bats, prompting worldwide discussion about the links between animal and human health.
But for all the interest in the pandemic’s animal origins, the global response has largely overlooked the fact that animal medicine might also play a role in developing the sought-after vaccine.
Different kinds of coronaviruses have long since affected animals including dogs, cats and livestock, and effective vaccines already exist to prevent many of them.
This means that the coronavirus family of diseases and their potential weaknesses are well studied by veterinary researchers, offering hope – and also valuable lessons – for the rapid development of a vaccine for people.
The current race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine is an important reminder not to ignore the lessons of veterinary medicine, which has already brought successful vaccines to market for several animal coronaviruses.
Behind the scenes, including within the government’s UK Vaccine Network of which I am a member, the outbreak has triggered close consultation and information sharing between animal health specialists and colleagues in human medicine.
It is thanks to work in animal health and veterinary science that we know first of all that coronavirus vaccines are achievable. Over many years, researchers have expanded scientific knowledge of the virus and how to immunise against it. For example, it has been shown that the virus’s “spike” proteins, which attach to cell receptors and allow the virus to infect and multiply, can be targeted using antibodies produced by the vaccination.
The viruses isolated for vaccines against certain animal diseases have remained largely unchanged for decades, suggesting that the coronavirus may not mutate as rapidly as some other viruses like flu, which requires seasonal vaccines against the latest circulating strains.
Veterinary medicine has also shown that effective vaccines can be developed to work in multiple ways, preventing disease by various means.
Some coronavirus vaccines for livestock, for example, are designed to produce antibodies in pregnant animals that can then be passed onto offspring, which are susceptible to disease at birth. These virus-neutralising antibodies produced through coronavirus vaccination play a critical role in disease prevention and control.
In other cases, coronavirus vaccines against different strains can be combined to provide broad protection.
And through advances in veterinary medicine, the scientific community also has a wide range of existing licenced novel vaccine technologies and associated know-how that do not need to be invented from scratch.
Just as research into papilloma viruses in rabbits and cows contributed to the development of the human papillomavirus vaccine given to girls to prevent cervical cancer, existing veterinary understanding of coronavirus can give Covid-19 vaccine developers a head start.
Veterinary vaccine delivery technologies could also be leveraged in the development of a human coronavirus vaccine. Some poultry coronavirus vaccines for example are given through drinking water or as a spray, thus providing a painless, simple and rapid form of immunisation. This kind of local administration could be particularly effective against respiratory infections like Covid-19.
Because of their unique expertise, veterinary surgeons play critical roles at the centre of the Venn diagram of human, animal and environmental health.
They have first-hand experience of successfully preventing animal coronaviruses through vaccination, and thanks to this knowledge and insights, many of the building blocks for a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign already exist. Through greater collaboration, scientists globally can rise to the challenge and complete this lifesaving mission.
Humans and animals share so many of the same health and disease threats, so it stands to reason that they might also share the solutions.
Dr Michael Francis is member of the UK Vaccine Network and UK Science Partnership for Animal and Plant Health
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Source-telegraph.co.uk
