ProfessorEamonn Gormley

The Badger Vaccine Project The badger vaccine project is a comprehensive programme of research that seeks to develop a vaccine to control tuberculosis in badgers and to break the link of infection to cattle. My laboratory has demonstrated that vaccination of badgers with the BCG vaccine generates high levels of protective immunity against challenge with M. bovis. The results of our studies to date have increased our understanding of the progression of the disease following infection and have improved our ability to accurately diagnose M. bovis infection in badgers. A field trial commenced in 2009 to test the efficacy of the BCG vaccine in a large population of badgers over a wide geographic area in Co Kilkenny. The results of the study were published in Plos One in January 2017 and July 2021 demonstrating that oral BCG protected badgers against tuberculosis under conditions of natural transmission. The findings of the trial have lead to implementation of a vaccination strategy into the national control programme. The TB diagnostics and Immunology Research laboratory also carries out diagnostic blood testing on TB infected animals. The gamma-interferon (IFN- g ) assay is used as a tool to assist in the eradication of bovine tuberculosis from the national cattle herd. In the period 2018-2021, over 100,000 blood samples were submitted to the laboratory for testing. Samples originate from reactor re-rest herds where the test is used to identify infected animals that were missed by the skin test. Other strategic uses of the test are targeted at skin test reactors as part of a quality assurance programme. The laboratory also conducts significant research into improving the performance of the blood test by investigating different antigen combinations, novel antigens and different cytokine assay platforms. Improvements and refinements to the assay should enhance the performance of the test leading to more specific identification of bTB infected animals in the national herd and contribute to the eradication of disease from herds.