Uzar, S., et al. Formulation of inactivated and adjuvanted combined bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus candidate vaccine and immunity studies in mice.

Uzar, S., et al. Formulation of inactivated and adjuvanted combined bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus candidate vaccine and immunity studies in mice. Vaccine, 2025 Nov 20, 67:127901, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127901.

• This study aimed to develop and evaluate a safe and effective combined inactivated vaccine targeting bovine rotavirus (BRV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), pathogens that are leading causes of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), a major health and economic concern in the livestock industry. Recognizing the significant role these viruses play in neonatal enteric infections and the importance of passive immunity transfer through colostrum, the researchers aimed to formulate a vaccine capable of inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses in target animals. The background emphasizes the widespread prevalence of BRV and BCoV as primary etiological agents of NCD, the need for improved vaccines that can elicit robust and broad-spectrum immunity, and the potential benefits of combining adjuvants (e.g. saponin) to enhance vaccine efficacy in providing passive protection to calves during their vulnerable early life stages.
  
• The study demonstrated that the combined vaccine formulations incorporating BRV and BCoV antigens elicited significant humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Specifically, all vaccine groups showed higher antibody titers in ELISA and serum neutralization tests compared to controls, with the strongest responses observed in groups containing the Quil-A® adjuvant alongside aluminum hydroxide, indicating enhanced immunogenicity. Cytokine analyses revealed increased levels of IFN-ɣ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α in vaccinated groups, suggesting activation of both Th1 and Th2 immune pathways.
  
• These findings confirm that the formulated vaccine candidates effectively induce comprehensive immune responses, supporting their potential to protect against BRV and BCoV infections in calves. The study also underscores the adjuvant’s role in amplifying immune responses, providing valuable insights for future safety and efficacy assessments in the target species. 
• Comments from DK: Veterinary vaccines are as important as human vaccines because they protect not only animal health but also global public health, food security, and economic stability. By preventing infectious diseases in livestock, companion animals, and even wildlife, veterinary vaccination programs reduce animal suffering, safeguard the food supply, and prevent devastating agricultural losses. Equally important, they serve as the first line of defense against zoonotic pathogens: microbes that can cross species barriers and cause human disease, as seen with influenza, rabies, and coronaviruses. Moreover, advances in veterinary vaccinology often precede and inform human vaccine innovation, providing essential models for adjuvant safety, immunogenicity, and delivery technologies. Thus, veterinary vaccines are an integral pillar of the “One Health” concept, bridging human, animal, and environmental health to protect all.

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