This project develops recombinant MTBC antigens for dual-purpose serological and cell-mediated immune testing in wildlife. These tools enable non-lethal tuberculosis surveillance, supporting conservation, safe translocations, and disease management at the wildlife-livestock interface.

Challenge

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), including M. bovis and M. tuberculosis, affects a wide range of wildlife species worldwide, from wild boar and cervids to non-human primates and large carnivores. These infections pose major threats not only to public and livestock health but also to conservation programmes. However, the absence of validated and wildlife-adapted diagnostic assays makes surveillance and disease management exceedingly difficult, especially for non-lethal testing and pre-translocation health assessments.

Solution

This project focuses on the recombinant expression of immunodominant MTBC antigens using bacterial expression systems. Purified proteins are evaluated both serologically, to detect specific antibody responses in wildlife, and functionally, as stimulants in ex vivo cell-mediated immune assays (e.g. IFN-γ release or cytokine profiling). This dual-purpose testing allows assessment of humoral and cellular immune responses in key host species such as warthogs, baboons, wild boar, lions, and cervids. These reagents are designed for adaptability in low-resource field or laboratory settings.

Impact

By developing MTBC antigens that can be used for both serological and cell-mediated immune testing, this project creates a versatile toolkit for non-lethal tuberculosis surveillance in wildlife. These tools will support conservation goals by facilitating safe translocations, monitoring outbreak dynamics in endangered populations, and enabling early detection in wildlife-livestock interface zones. The ability to measure cellular responses is especially valuable in species where humoral markers are less reliable, helping to close diagnostic gaps. Ultimately, this work enhances our capacity to manage TB risks across ecological, veterinary, and conservation contexts.