The opportunity

• Toxoplasma infection causes huge livestock losses 
• Current vaccine technology has poor stability
• Our strain prevents acute and chronic infection

Toxoplasmosis caused by ingestion of food contaminated with cat faeces leads to huge livestock losses from abortion, particularly in sheep flocks, and results in chronic infection from formation of tissue cysts. Ingestion of meat containing cysts transmits the infection.

Currently there is no treatment for chronic infection and an agricultural vaccine is only available in some markets. 

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The technology

We have developed a genetically defined attenuated Toxoplasma mutant that cannot regulate its energy storage and hyperaccumulates starch. The strain is an excellent vaccine candidate as it elicits a complete immune response and is safe because it cannot form stable cysts and cannot cause chronic infection. 

Opportunities for partnership 

Our goal is to develop a stable, safe and efficacious vaccine for toxoplasmosis that can be used in livestock worldwide.

We have:

• A safe Toxoplasma strain, with easily scalable growth, for vaccine development
• Provisional patent application 
• An exceptional team with expertise in Toxoplasma biology

We are looking for a partner to:

• co-develop a novel livestock vaccine, assist with veterinary trials and advise on regulatory issues 
• commercialise and market this novel vaccine for toxoplasmosis in livestock

Scientific team

Associate Professor Chris Tonkin, Laboratory Head, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence division

Contact

Dr Victoria Jameson, Business Development Associate

Phone: +61 3 9345 2542 

Email: partnering@wehi.edu.au