mRNA Therapy to Induce Expression of Molecules to Prevent or Treat Infectious Respiratory Disease in Cattle

Description:

Background

Infectious respiratory disease in cattle is the most common cause of sickness and death in many types of cattle in the United States and around the world. It is caused by one or more of multiple different viruses and/or bacteria. 

Technology Overview

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of sickness and death in many types of cattle in the U.S. and around the world. Vaccines and antimicrobials are used to prevent and control BRD, and many antimicrobials have been licensed to treat the bacteria that contribute to BRD. In spite of these actions, BRD persists as a costly health problem that negatively impacts well‑being and productivity of cattle. We have shown that messenger RNA (mRNA) applied directly to the respiratory tract of cattle can cause the production of molecules on the respiratory surface that have the potential to prevent or counteract the effects of infection by viruses and bacteria that contribute to BRD. Importantly, mRNA therapy can induce production of antibodies by treated cattle within hours, which is more rapid than can possibly occur following vaccination. Moreover, mRNA-induced production of antimicrobial peptides could be used to treat bacterial BRD without increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs important for animals and humans. This is relevant because antimicrobial resistance is a negative consequence of currently used antimicrobial‑based approaches to control BRD. In summary, mRNA treatment of the bovine respiratory tract has the potential to induce protective responses to BRD within hours, providing a way to control BRD that is superior to currently used approaches.

Benefits

Our application is more rapid and more targeted than competing approaches to prevent respiratory disease in cattle. Our approach may also be useful for treatment, in this way it is most similar to antimicrobials which are currently used. However, antimicrobial use is driving antimicrobial resistance, which is currently of societal concern. Our approach may have similar therapeutic value with less likelihood of driving antimicrobial resistance. 

Applications

This treatment has potential application in veterinary medicine.

Seeking

• Development partner
• Commercial partner
• Licensing
• Seeking investment

IP Status

• Patent application submitted
• Provisional patent