Research Projects

Lumpy skin disease (LsD) is an OIE notifiable, transboundary pox viral disease of cattle. India reported first incidence in 2019, since then outbreaks are reported from several states. At present India lacks effective vaccine for field use to control LsD. The present project is proposed to evaluate the prophylactic potential of immunogenic proteins of LsD virus for their use as a candidate vaccine. Further, the comparative sequence analysis of LsDV from 2019-20 outbreaks with the present isolates will throw light on the most conserved proteins. Of which, the immunogenic proteins will be expressed in prokaryotic host system, confirmed by sDs PAGE and western blotting, bulk produced in large scale and purified. The purified proteins will be added with suitable adjuvant, emulsified and inoculated into experimental animals as per the standard protocols. The blood will be collected and the efficacy and protective response of the immunogenic proteins will be estimated by indirect ELIsA and in vitro neutralization tests. In future, the most neutralizing recombinant protein based vaccine could be used for immunization of cattle and based on the results, that vaccine could be taken to the level of commercialization.