Toxoplasmosis is a disease of significant concern for pregnant persons. There are multiple ways to be infected, with the most common way being contact with the stool of infected felines. Felines are the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii, the zoonotic causative agent of toxoplasmosis, making them the needed target of a vaccine to prevent T.gondii.

Inventors at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the University of South Bohemia are seeking a licensee or collaborator for a vaccine to inoculate felines against T.gondii. They have found that T.gondii strains lacking expression of either the intracellular transport protein IFT88 or the CY5-6-type surface antigen SRS15B completely prevent the formation of oocysts and have potential for broad immunity to T.gondii. 

The inventors propose that mass inoculation of felines with a live vaccine developed from these strains could result in a significant reduction in oocyst production and environment contamination. 

Commercial Applications

• Live vaccine for felines against Toxoplasma gondii infection
• Reduction in environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocysts

Competitive Advantages

• 100% blocked Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding in felines
• Detectable seroconversion protective against future Toxoplasma gondii infection
• Scalable production strain with predictable inactivation of IFT88 or SRS15B gene
• Materials available for development or licensing

More information on this vaccine for cats to block Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding and transmission can be found on the abstract.