Dataset: Co-administration of adjuvanted recombinant Ov-103 and Ov-RAL2 vaccines confer protection against natural challenge in a bovine O. ochengi infection model of human onchocerciasis

<p class="MsoNormal"><span>[Abstract from accompanying manuscript]</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the filarial nematode <em>Onchocerca volvulus</em>, is a neglected tropical disease endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 20.9 million individuals live with infected and a further 205 million are at risk of disease. Current control methods rely on mass drug administration of ivermectin to suppress microfilarial development. Presently, there are no viable treatment options effective against the long-lived adult worms. The identification and development of efficacious vaccine candidates as complementary tools to support ongoing elimination efforts are therefore a major objective of onchocerciasis research. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>We evaluated the immunogenicity and protective effects of co-administering two leading <em>O. volvulus</em>-derived recombinant vaccine candidates (<em>Ov</em>-103 and <em>Ov</em>-RAL2) in cattle with subsequent natural exposure to <em>Onchocerca ochengi, </em>a close phylogenetic relative of <em>O. volvulus</em>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Immunisation induced strong IgG responses against both vaccine candidates. Following natural exposure to <em>O. ochengi</em>, vaccination status and resulting serum antibody response was associated with delayed nodule development and onset of microfilaridermia. Peptide arrays identified several <em>Ov</em>-103 and <em>Ov</em>-RAL2-specific epitopes recognised by IgG from immunised cattle which warrant further investigation. Our data provide supporting evidence for ongoing development of a recombinant vaccine for control of human onchocerciasis.</span></p>