Insects are the carrier of the Bluetongue virus that infects cattle, sheep and some other wild ruminants.
Infected animals experience a range of symptoms, which are fatal in some cases. There are also indirect impacts including weight loss and reduced milk production.
The new and cost effective method allows the production of a reliable type of inactivated vaccine using a "synthetic biology" approach, a study done by scientists from the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with Merial Animal Health reported.
The "synthetic" viral particles are created rapidly in the laboratory using sequence information from the genetic material of the virus, the study reported.
Synthetic vaccines can cure the animal 6 months faster than the traditional medicine, it said.
This breakthrough means that a reliable product could become available more quickly following the detection of an outbreak caused by a newly emerging BTV strain.
Professor Massimo Palmarini, Director of the MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research and lead researcher said: overall, this vaccine platform can significantly reduce the time taken from the identification of newly emerging BTV strains to the development and production of new effective vaccines."
Previous prevention measures include culling of animals and use of inactivated vaccines which contain viruses that have been killed by chemical methods.
However, despite being effective, they only offer protection against a specific strain of the virus.
You’ve hit your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online
Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app