Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep

Abstract Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic nematode in small ruminants, causing major production losses and animal welfare concerns. With increasing anthelmintic resistance, vaccination offers a more sustainable control strategy. This study evaluated a novel glycoengineered vaccine produce...

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Main Authors: Floriana Sajovitz-Grohmann, Isabella Adduci, Dirk Werling, Sandra Wiedermann, Licha N. Wortha, Bojan Prole, Julia Zlöbl, Jolina Elster, Alexander Tichy, Anja Joachim, Thomas Wittek, Barbara Hinney, Shi Yan, Katharina Lichtmannsperger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Vaccines
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01249-z
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author Floriana Sajovitz-Grohmann
Isabella Adduci
Dirk Werling
Sandra Wiedermann
Licha N. Wortha
Bojan Prole
Julia Zlöbl
Jolina Elster
Alexander Tichy
Anja Joachim
Thomas Wittek
Barbara Hinney
Shi Yan
Katharina Lichtmannsperger
author_facet Floriana Sajovitz-Grohmann
Isabella Adduci
Dirk Werling
Sandra Wiedermann
Licha N. Wortha
Bojan Prole
Julia Zlöbl
Jolina Elster
Alexander Tichy
Anja Joachim
Thomas Wittek
Barbara Hinney
Shi Yan
Katharina Lichtmannsperger
author_sort Floriana Sajovitz-Grohmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic nematode in small ruminants, causing major production losses and animal welfare concerns. With increasing anthelmintic resistance, vaccination offers a more sustainable control strategy. This study evaluated a novel glycoengineered vaccine produced in Hi5 insect cells in a randomized, controlled trial including Jura × Lacaune sheep. Animals received either Barbervax® (BVAX), the glycoengineered vaccine (GEA) composed of five antigens (H11, H11-1, H11-2, H11-4 and GA1), its non-glycoengineered counterpart (NEA), or served as controls. Over 16 weeks, clinical, immunological, and parasitological data were collected. GEA reduced fecal egg counts by 81.09% and worm burden by 25.36%, showing a lower degree of anemia compared to NEA and control. All vaccinated groups exhibited elevated IgG/IgE responses. The results underscore the importance of glycoengineering in achieving protective immunity against H. contortus, supporting the development of highly effective recombinant vaccines against this and other parasitic worms in the future.
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series npj Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-4214ac57dfe24477bfca9edb2d56df072025-08-20T03:04:22ZengNature Portfolionpj Vaccines2059-01052025-08-0110111410.1038/s41541-025-01249-zSafety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheepFloriana Sajovitz-Grohmann0Isabella Adduci1Dirk Werling2Sandra Wiedermann3Licha N. Wortha4Bojan Prole5Julia Zlöbl6Jolina Elster7Alexander Tichy8Anja Joachim9Thomas Wittek10Barbara Hinney11Shi Yan12Katharina Lichtmannsperger13Clinical Centre for Ruminant and Camelid Medicine, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaCentre for Vaccinology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathobiology and Population Science, Royal Veterinary CollegeInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaClinical Centre for Ruminant and Camelid Medicine, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaClinical Centre for Ruminant and Camelid Medicine, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaBioinformatics and Biostatistics Platform, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaClinical Centre for Ruminant and Camelid Medicine, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaClinical Centre for Ruminant and Camelid Medicine, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaAbstract Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic nematode in small ruminants, causing major production losses and animal welfare concerns. With increasing anthelmintic resistance, vaccination offers a more sustainable control strategy. This study evaluated a novel glycoengineered vaccine produced in Hi5 insect cells in a randomized, controlled trial including Jura × Lacaune sheep. Animals received either Barbervax® (BVAX), the glycoengineered vaccine (GEA) composed of five antigens (H11, H11-1, H11-2, H11-4 and GA1), its non-glycoengineered counterpart (NEA), or served as controls. Over 16 weeks, clinical, immunological, and parasitological data were collected. GEA reduced fecal egg counts by 81.09% and worm burden by 25.36%, showing a lower degree of anemia compared to NEA and control. All vaccinated groups exhibited elevated IgG/IgE responses. The results underscore the importance of glycoengineering in achieving protective immunity against H. contortus, supporting the development of highly effective recombinant vaccines against this and other parasitic worms in the future.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01249-z
spellingShingle Floriana Sajovitz-Grohmann
Isabella Adduci
Dirk Werling
Sandra Wiedermann
Licha N. Wortha
Bojan Prole
Julia Zlöbl
Jolina Elster
Alexander Tichy
Anja Joachim
Thomas Wittek
Barbara Hinney
Shi Yan
Katharina Lichtmannsperger
Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
npj Vaccines
title Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
title_full Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
title_fullStr Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
title_full_unstemmed Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
title_short Safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against Haemonchus contortus in sheep
title_sort safety and efficacy of a novel glycoengineered recombinant vaccine candidate against haemonchus contortus in sheep
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01249-z
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