Dow AgroSciences LLC has signed a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) laboratory in Laramie, Wyo, to develop a plant-made vaccine to protect against West Nile virus.

The research and development collaboration between Dow AgroSciences and the USDA-ARS Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory resulted when both parties recognised the potential of producing the vaccine in plant systems.

Plant-made vaccines are highly robust, which may result in needle-free delivery techniques such as through food, water or inhaled mist. In addition, an attractive safety aspect of using plant-made vaccines is that there is less chance of contamination with extraneous disease agents during use.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with USDA-ARS, which, in addition to its longstanding expertise in West Nile virus, has specialised laboratories for the development of vaccines and other biological products," said Butch Mercer, global business leader, Animal Health and Nutrition for Dow AgroSciences.

West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, is fatal to about one-third of infected horses, while about 2 per cent of humans infected become seriously ill or die. West Nile virus is also a threat to birds.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis is involved in providing pest management and biotechnology products.