Zoetis And The Roslin Institute Collaborate To Control Salmonella

Zoetis Inc., formerly the animal health business unit of Pfizer Inc., and The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, have announced a collaboration for research of Salmonella in cattle.

The Roslin Institute has received funding from the Biotechnology and  Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to support collaborative  research with Zoetis that will bring valuable industry knowledge and  input into its academic research program. For three years, the BBSRC will contribute 80 percent of funding for the study - close to $1million - and Zoetis will not only provide the remaining 20 percent of  funding but also provide in-kind services via research materials and  expertise.

Researchers at The Roslin Institute and Zoetis will jointly investigate how Salmonella enters and persists within the bovine lymphatic system and can lead to  contamination of beef for human consumption. The team of researchers  from The Roslin Institute - which is incorporated within the Royal  (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies - includes Professor Mark Stevens, Professor John Hopkins and Dr Jayne Hope. They are collaborating with Charles  Cornell, MS, technical lead for the Cattle Food Safety Vaccine franchise, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development at Zoetis. The Roslin Institute research team will work with Zoetis to help develop and implement solutions to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella in meat.

Salmonella infections in cattle are significant for two  reasons. The bacteria can cause gastroenteritis and  abortion in the animals, thereby harming their productivity and welfare,  and contamination of beef and the farm environment can lead to  infections in people.

Cattle are a significant source of human Salmonella infections. Although the animal's lymphatic system normally helps fight infection, some types of Salmonella have adapted to evade the immune system and survive in lymph nodes.

A key gap in our knowledge is how Salmonella enters the  lymphatic system in the first place and then persists within it,  constraining our ability to design strategies to control infection. We will examine the role of host and  bacterial factors in this process and use the results of our research  study to identify new and better targets that could help us control Salmonella infections in cattle.

"Funding from the BBSRC allows The Roslin Institute to work strategically with Zoetis on important Salmonella research in cattle, which impacts animal and human health and safety of  the food supply across the globe. 

Salmonella remains a health concern worldwide and is  estimated to cause about 94 million cases of foodborne disease in humans  and 155,000 deaths each year.

This study  is fundamental for developing intervention strategies. We're excited and  committed to being at the forefront of these discoveries, working  closely with our academic and industry partners, to identify issues and  solutions for safe food now and in the future as we work together to  feed the world's growing population."

Zoetis is an ideal partner for Salmonella research. Zoetis will provide a link between our basic research and  commercialization. This study will add value to future  studies at The Roslin Institute of other infectious diseases of  food-producing animals.

Zoetis has been an industry partner on a variety of research programs  with the BBSRC since 2008 to help advance understanding of critical  animal diseases and develop new solutions for those who raise food  animals.

About Zoetis

Zoetis is the  leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting customers and  businesses focused on raising and caring for livestock and companion  animals. Building on a 60-year history as the animal health business of  Pfizer Inc., Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets  veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products  and genetic tests and supported by a range of services. The company  generated annual revenues of $4.3 billion in 2012. It has more than  9,300 employees worldwide and a local presence in approximately 70 countries, including 29 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries. Its  products serve veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise  and care for livestock and companion animals in 120 countries.

For more  information, visit zoetisUS.com.

About The Roslin Institute

The Roslin  Institute is a National Institute of Bioscience which receives Institute  Strategic Program Grant funding from the Biotechnology and Biological  Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). It is a part of the College of  Medicine and Veterinary Medicine of the University of Edinburgh.

The Institute undertakes research within the framework of BBSRC  Institute Strategic Programs focused on the health and welfare of  animals, and applications of basic animal sciences in human and  veterinary medicine, the livestock industry and food security.

About BBSRC

The Biotechnology and  Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class  bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is  to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and  job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

Funded by Government, and with an annual budget of around £500M  (2012-2013), we support research and training in universities and  strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund  are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security,  green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin  important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial  biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact, see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk.

For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes, see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes.

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