DNA-based vaccine against FeLV

 

Infections with the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) are prevalent in both domestic and wild cats throughout the world. If the immune system of the cat after it has been infected is not able to fight the virus in the body successfully, a number of different severe symptoms can occur, including for example damage to the hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, tumors, reproductive disorders, neurological disorders and the death of the animal.

 

Infection with FeLV can lead to a weakening of the immune system and thus open the body up to other infections with different pathogens. As a result of the worldwide prevalence of FeLV and the possible serious illnesses it can cause, FeLV infections are considered one of the most minatory viral infections in cats. Up to now, vaccination has been the only possibility of protecting cats against FeLV. A number of different vaccines are already available, but they are not 100 percent effective and have in isolated cases been associated with the development of tumors at the vaccination site.

 

MOLOGEN is currently optimizing an FeLV vaccine on the basis of MIDGE-Th1 vectors. The MIDGE-Th1 vectors bear the genetic information of virus proteins. The body of the vaccinated cat generates a specific immune response to these proteins that includes the humoral and cellular components. Preliminary laboratory tests have already produced highly promising results using the new FeLV vaccine.

 

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