Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH&VB) developed a novel bio-film based E Coli vaccine to prevent a deadly poultry disease that is now rampant in the country. The vaccine, which has undergone extensive clinical trials is now ready for commercialization. The research is funded by the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), New Delhi, where Rs.25 lakh was allocated for a four year research programme.

The new vaccine developed using the bio-film strategy has been exploited for immuno-prophylaxis and is claimed to be the first of its kind in the world. Although work on bio-film strategy has been used in various fields of research, in poultry vaccine it is the maiden initiative.

The vaccine, which has undergone nine years of research at the department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Bangalore has now completed extensive field trials and is ready for commercialization.

The new vaccine can successfully fight the deadly bacteria Escherichia Coli (E-Coli), which widely affects Indian poultry. There are 14 strains for the disease and the scientists from the IAHVB have used the two most important strains -078 and 02 which are most prevalent in poultry to develop the vaccine, Dr G Krishnappa, director, IAH&VB and former professor & head of the department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Bangalore told Pharmabiz.

"Most bacteria survive in adverse conditions and form bio-films and get accustomed to survive. An Exopolysacaride is secreted around the organism which forms a physical barrier and thereby prevents penetration of the drugs, enzymes and biocides during an infection.

Using the bio-film strategy, the research team led by Dr Krishnappa conducted extensive studies where the infected organism was reproduced in-vivo in the laboratory to develop the vaccine. The research team has used the same bio-film strategy to produce vaccines for Salmonellosis and foul cholera.

A three year clinical trial on 70,000 chickens in various poultry farms in Karnataka is now complete. The trial has achieved cent per cent protection among birds.

The E-Coli disease affects several poultry farms in the country and cannot be controlled. More than the mortality, the morbidity of the disease is high as usually poultry farms have a minimum of one lakh birds. When one bird is affected the entire farm succumbs to it. The disease causes huge economic losses to the poultry sector, informed Dr Krishnappa.

The vaccine is being initiated for scale-up by using a simple technology and hence it will not be expensive to produce it , informed Dr Krishnappa.

Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals is known for its research in various bacterial and viral vaccines including rabies and the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) commonly known as the monkey fever for domestic animals.