IIT-Guwahati transfers technology for first anti-swine fever vaccine

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has achieved a significant milestone by successfully transferring technology for the production of India’s first recombinant virus-based vaccine for classical swine fever.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• This breakthrough represents a pivotal development in combating the highly contagious disease affecting pigs and wild boars.
• IIT Guwahati has facilitated the transfer of pioneering vaccine technology to BioMed Pvt Ltd, a manufacturing company specializing in high-quality vaccines.
• This transfer enables commercial production of the vaccine, offering a swift and cost-effective solution for pig vaccination.
• The vaccine developed at IIT Guwahati utilizes a recombinant virus-based platform, which is a novel approach in India for combating classical swine fever.
• This method represents a significant advancement in vaccine technology, ensuring effective protection against the disease.
• The development of this vaccine is the result of collaborative efforts between researchers from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Guwahati and Assam Agricultural University in Guwahati.

ABOUT SWINE FEVER:

• Classical swine fever is a highly infectious and often fatal viral disease of swine.
• Swine infected with classical swine fever virus usually develop fever, hemorrhages, lethargy, yellowish diarrhea, vomiting, and purple skin discoloration of the ears, lower abdomen, and legs.
• Neurological signs, reproductive failures, and abortion may also be observed.
• Diagnostic tests for the disease include RT-qPCR assay, virus isolation, immunofluorescence assay, and detection of antibodies by serological tests such as ELISA and virus neutralization.
• Swine fever poses a significant threat in various states across India, particularly in the northeastern states, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, and Kerala.
• The availability of an indigenous vaccine holds promise for controlling the spread of the disease and safeguarding the livestock industry.