IIT-Guwahati breaks new ground with swine fever vaccine technology transfer | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a significant stride towards combating livestock diseases, the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has transferred a pioneering vaccine technology to BioMed Pvt. Ltd.

This move marks the inception of a unique venture in India’s veterinary vaccine development, focusing on the deadly classical swine fever virus affecting pigs and wild boars.

Announced on March 26, this collaboration underscores a notable advancement in addressing a critical gap within the country’s vaccine offerings.

Classical swine fever is known for its highly contagious nature among pig populations, leading to a substantial mortality rate.

Despite posing no threat to humans, the disease’s prevalence, especially in the northeastern states of India as well as in Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, has underscored the urgent need for an effective vaccine.

Until now, the absence of such a vaccine posed a looming threat to India’s burgeoning pig industry.

The vaccine technology is developed through a reverse genetic platform. It is the brainchild of concerted efforts by researchers from IIT-G’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering and Assam Agricultural University in Guwahati.

The journey, beginning in 2018-2019, has culminated in a recombinant vector vaccine designed to safeguard pigs and wild boars from swine fever.

The innovation is backed by research findings published in the prestigious journals Process Biochemistry and Archives of Virology, attesting to the scientific rigour and potential impact of this breakthrough.

The transfer of this technology to BioMed Pvt. Ltd., a leader in the veterinary vaccine sector, represents a significant milestone in India’s fight against swine fever.

It not only promises to shield the pig farming industry from potential outbreaks but also paves the way for future advancements in veterinary medicine and vaccine development.

It is signalling a new era of disease management in livestock and reinforcing the institute’s commitment to leveraging science for societal benefit.

This initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in animal health and agriculture.

Image Credit: Vikramjit Kakati, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IIT_Guwahati.jpg