ARS | Publication request: Vaccine development using recombinant DNA technology

Submitted to: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Issue Paper
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: July 9, 2007
Publication Date: December 1, 2008
Citation: Jackwood, M.W., Hickle, L., Kapil, S., Silva, R.F. 2008. Vaccine Development Using Recombinant DNA Technology. Animal Agriculture's Future through Biotechnology, Part 7. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Issue Paper. p. 1-11.

Technical Abstract: Vaccines induce an immune response in the host that subsequently recognizes infectious agents and helps fight off the disease; vaccines must do this without causing the disease. This paper reviews the development of recombinant DNA technologies as a means of providing new ways for attenuating disease agents by modifying their genetic makeup to create safer, more efficacious vaccines. Paralleling the development of these vaccines has been the study of vaccine delivery methods and compounds that enhance the immune response. The paper provides a brief historical overview of vaccine development and describes the three basic categories of recombinant vaccines. The development of vaccines for cattle, swine, chickens, fish, and companion animals is evaluated. Within each category, the authors describe the vaccines that are commercially available, outline the recent advances in recombinant vaccines for the control of infectious diseases, and discuss the future of vaccines for animal diseases. The authors conclude that advances in recombinant DNA technology, in knowledge of the host immune response, and in the genetic makeup of disease agents will lead to new vaccines against diseases for which no control measures currently exist.