Tick vaccines

Control of ticks is of ultimate importance to improve livestock production. New methods to reduce tick infestation need to be developed now that multi-drug resistant ticks are emerging. The main target is the development of effective tick vaccines against Rhipicephalus (Boöphilus) microplus and Rh. appendiculatus, the two most important tick species that transmit Babesia and Theileria parasites. We focus on antigen identification and adjuvant and vaccine formulations to provoke the appropriate immune responses in cattle. In vitro feeding techniques are used to determine the protective effect of experimental vaccine formulations, prior and in addition to infestation of cattle.