Research Reveals Method To Improve E. coli Vaccines

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., in which researchers revealed a method to improve E. coli vaccines. The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Koch Foods and is part of the Association's comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY's website, www.uspoultry.org. The project summary is as follows.

Project #698: Production of Cross-Protective Autogenous Bacterin Vaccine Strains for Controlling Escherichia Coli Infections in Poultry

(Dr. John Maurer, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)

Dr. John Maurer and colleagues at the University of Georgia recently completed a research project in which they developed a new method to create killed vaccines for E. coli. This technique involves growing the bacteria in such a way that it can provide broad immunity against many E. coli types when incorporated into a killed vaccine. The new production method has the potential to provide enhanced protection to layers and breeders against a broader array of E. coli types and help minimize losses due to E. coli infection.

For more information, visit www.uspoultry.org.