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Yang J, Zhou Z, Li G, Dong Z, Li Q, Fu K, Liu H, Zhong Z, Fu H, Ren Z, Gu W, Peng G. Oral immunocontraceptive vaccines: A novel approach for fertility control in wildlife. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 89:e13653. [PMID: 36373212 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The overabundant populations of wildlife have caused many negative impacts, such as human-wildlife conflicts and ecological degradation. The existing approaches like injectable immunocontraceptive vaccines and lethal methods have limitations in many aspects, which has prompted the advancement of oral immunocontraceptive vaccine. There is growing interest in oral immunocontraceptive vaccines for reasons including high immunization coverage, easier administration, frequent boosting, the ability to induce systemic and mucosal immune responses, and cost-effectiveness. Delivery systems have been developed to protect oral antigens and enhance the immunogenicity, including live vectors, microparticles and nanoparticles, bacterial ghosts, and mucosal adjuvants. However, currently, no effective oral immunocontraceptive vaccine is available for field trials because of the enormous development challenges, including biological and physicochemical barriers of the gastrointestinal tract, mucosal tolerance, pre-existing immunity, antigen residence time in the small intestine, species specificity and other safety issues. To overcome these challenges, this article summarizes achievements in delivery systems and contraceptive antigens in oral immunocontraceptive vaccines and explores the potential barriers for future vaccine design and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ziyao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gangshi Li
- Chengdu Ruipeng Changjiang Road Pet Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiyou Dong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianlan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Keyi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhijun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hualin Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihua Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wuyang Gu
- Chengdu Ruipeng Changjiang Road Pet Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Guangneng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Cross ML, Zheng T, Duckworth JA, Cowan PE. Could recombinant technology facilitate the realisation of a fertility-control vaccine for possums? NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2010.541468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- ML Cross
- a Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua , Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - T Zheng
- b AgResearch , Hopkirk Research Institute , Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - JA Duckworth
- a Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua , Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - PE Cowan
- c Landcare Research , Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Strive T, Hardy CM, Reubel GH. Prospects for immunocontraception in the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes). WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2007. [DOI: 10.1071/wr07007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The European red fox is an introduced pest species in Australia for which improved means of control are urgently needed. Research efforts have focussed recently on the development of novel biological control methods to reduce the serious impact this species continues to have on both native fauna and the sheep industry. The ultimate goal has been to generate an antifertility vaccine for use on foxes that relies on a process termed ‘immunocontraception’. A variety of proteins derived from sperm and oocytes, together with different delivery vectors, have been experimentally assessed for their ability to induce immunocontraceptive responses in foxes. Vaccine vectors screened have included Salmonella typhimurium, vaccinia virus and canine herpesvirus but suppression of fertility has yet to be achieved with any combination of antigen and delivery vector. Downregulation of fox mucosal antibodies during oestrus, lack of vector replication and low antibody responses to the target antigens have been the main constraints in successful fertility control. The fox is not well known as an experimental animal and the logistics of dealing with this difficult-to-handle species proved to be a major challenge when compared with other species, such as rabbits and mice. Despite these difficulties, research on fox immunocontraception has generated important insights into the reproductive biology, husbandry, biology and basic immunology of viral vectors in European red foxes. This information represents a valuable knowledge base should antifertility vaccination for foxes be revisited in the future.
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Asquith KL, Kitchener AL, Kay DJ. Immunisation of the male tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) with spermatozoa elicits epididymal antigen-specific antibody secretion and compromised fertilisation rate. J Reprod Immunol 2006; 69:127-47. [PMID: 16380166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2005.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2005] [Revised: 08/23/2005] [Accepted: 08/31/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Immunocontraception has been proposed as an effective and humane means of controlling overabundant kangaroo populations in Australia. We have examined the feasibility of using a sperm-based vaccine for this purpose using a model macropod species, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). This study has demonstrated immunocontraception in a marsupial species following immunisation of males with homologous spermatozoa. Serum anti-sperm IgG titres were associated with a significant reduction in fertilisation rates following mating with superovulated female wallabies. Antigen-specific IgG penetrated the reproductive tract at the rete testis and bound spermatozoa in vivo. IgG was detected bound to the acrosome and midpiece regions of both epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa. The absence of adverse testicular pathology and sperm movement effects suggests that contraception may have been achieved by antibody-mediated blocking of sperm surface antigens essential for fertilisation. This study demonstrates that a contraceptive vaccine targeting sperm antigens has potential for fertility control in male macropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Asquith
- Cooperative Research Centre for Conservation and Management of Marsupials, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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