BIOTECHNOLOGY company Spirogene is working on developing a vaccine that may help prevent potentially deadly Brachyspira bacteria affecting poultry and pigs worldwide.

The spin-off of a Murdoch University project, Spirogene formed in 2007 to commercialise Professor David Hampson’s research into the emerging poultry disease, Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis. In 2008, the research focus expanded to include Swine Dysentery in pigs.

Spirogene CEO Dr Alistair Murdoch says the initial stages of the Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis vaccine development involved a significant amount of market research to determine the extent of the problem and whether there was a need for better treatment options.

“We got some good data back from our market research. The chicken industry is a very small industry and there are only 60 odd veterinarians globally that are specialists in the health of egg laying chickens.
 
“We went out there and asked the poultry specialists and farmers if they saw Brachyspira, or dirty egg syndrome, as a problem and asked them if they had an option for a vaccine would they take it.”

With 80 per cent of respondents confirming a need for an alternative to antibiotic treatment, Dr Murdoch says Spirogene began its work into developing a vaccine.

“Our expertise lies in early-stage development which includes proof of concept trials.
 
“Part of that is identifying what could stimulate an immune response from a vaccine and then controlling that response initially in the in vitro models and then on to small in vivo studies of the target species.

“Whilst working on that, we also looked at the most suitable dose, the best conditions for administration of it and the best antigen to go with it.”

During the research and development stage for the Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis vaccine, Dr Murdoch says Spirogene also saw an opportunity to develop a vaccine for Swine Dysentery disease which affects 20-30 percent of pig herds in Australia.

 “We knew the market wanted it and had a good understanding of the value of it. It was just a case of finding someone who wanted to work with us to develop it.”

Spirogene has since secured a major collaborative research and licensing agreement with a global pharmaceutical company and Dr Murdoch says the opportunity should be of significant benefit to farmers and the food production industry.
 
“Swine Dysentery is a serious disease where pigs can go from being poorly one day, and if they’ve get severe Dysentery, to dying within 24-48 hours.

“If you’re treating them with antibiotics you’re trying to catch up with the disease the whole time, while vaccination is a much better program for preventative medicine.

“Dysentery has an effect on production and it can give you a group of pigs below optimal weight and penalties are placed on pigs below optimal weight which is bad news for farmers.

“The same thing applies with eggs. There is nothing registered in Australia for Brachyspira in chickens; and there is some concern whether eggs are safe for people to eat following treatment with antibiotics.

“So if you have got a problem and you are treating your chickens with antibiotics, you have to withhold the eggs for 5-7 days and that’s a huge cost to farmers.”

Dr Murdoch says Spirogene is also working with a global diagnostic company to release an easy-to-use diagnostic test to aid farmers in a thorough disease assessment of their animals.

“So when we take it to market we can say here’s something that tells you yes you’ve got a problem and here is the solution for it.”