Development of a novel oral vaccine against Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis and Johne disease: A patho-biotechnological approach

Christopher Johnston; Aidan Coffey; Jim O’ Mahony

Commentary

Development of a novel oral vaccine against Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis and Johne disease: A patho-biotechnological approach

Volume 1, Issue 3 May/June 2010
Pages 155 - 163
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/bbug.1.3.10408

Christopher Johnston, Aidan Coffey and Jim O’ Mahony

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Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of Johne’s disease,
a granulomatous enteritis of cattle and other domesticated and wild ruminant species. Johne’s
disease is prevalent worldwide and has a significant impact on the global agricultural economy.
Current vaccines against Johne’s are insufficient in stemming its spread, and associated side-
effects prevent their widespread use in control programs. Effective and safe vaccine strategies
are needed. The main purpose of this paper is to propose and evaluate the development of a
novel oral subunit-vaccine using a patho-biotechnological approach. This novel strategy, which
harnesses patho-genetic elements from the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, may
provide a realistic route towards developing an effective next generation subunit vaccine against
Johne’s disease and Paratuberculosis.