Safe live-attenuated vaccine for swine circovirus
This technology provides a genetically engineered vaccine to protect swine from Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), a devastating disease caused by Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2). Researchers created a 'chimeric' virus by taking a harmless version of the virus (PCV1) and swapping in a specific surface protein from the harmful version (PCV2). This allows the pig's immune system to recognize and learn to fight the dangerous virus without ever being exposed to the actual disease-causing pathogen. The resulting vaccine is infectious enough to trigger immunity but is inherently non-pathogenic, meaning it cannot make the animal sick.
What you could build
A live-attenuated chimeric vaccine for the commercial swine industry, sold to large-scale pork producers and veterinary pharmaceutical distributors.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia's significant pork production industry and Smithfield Foods' global headquarters make this high-priority for local animal health stakeholders.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Xiang-Jin Meng, Martijn Fenaux, Patrick G. Halbur
- Granted
- August 18, 2009
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7575752
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.