FFAR Research Explores New World Screwworm Vaccine

To address the ongoing threats from New World screwworm, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Medgene are investing $499,996 in a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop and test a vaccine that could help protect cattle from this harmful parasite.

Why it matters:

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of livestock, wildlife, pets and humans. Infestations can be severe and potentially fatal. Female flies can lay up to 400 eggs at a single site, and with a life cycle of about 15 days, the parasite can spread rapidly without effective controls.

The research:

Led by Dr. Casey Wright, bacteriology development manager at Medgene, researchers are developing a vaccine that targets proteins New World screwworm larvae need to feed and develop. The goal is to trigger antibodies in vaccinated cattle that interfere with the larvae’s ability to feed on tissue and complete their life cycle.

Using Medgene’s scalable vaccine production platform, the team is vaccinating cattle, assessing safety and measuring their immune response to determine whether the vaccine should advance to field studies.

The potential:

If successful, the vaccine could give producers another tool to protect cattle and limit New World screwworm’s spread. A vaccine could be particularly valuable in extensive production systems, where livestock are dispersed across large areas and frequent monitoring and treatment can be challenging. The approach would complement the sterile insect release program and other control measures by preventing larvae from successfully feeding and developing in cattle.

This research supports U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research priority on Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species.

New World screwworm infestations can rapidly cause severe tissue damage and can be fatal within seven to 14 days if left untreated. The parasite threatens more than $100 billion in U.S. economic activity tied to the cattle and livestock industry alone. We urgently need multiple tools to protect cattle and other vulnerable livestock. A vaccine could provide a critical additional layer of protection while complementing existing control efforts. Jasmine Bruno, Ph.D.

FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the U.S. food supply or agricultural systems.

This project is another great opportunity for Medgene to partner with FFAR and demonstrate how our platform technology can be leveraged to rapidly support the U.S. livestock industry with emerging threats,” said Dr. Wright. “With this project, we are excited to help veterinarians in the fight against New World Screwworm, just as we have done with other parasites. Casey Wright, Ph.D.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.