Forty years of immunology research at ILRI: An impact narrative

Over the years, cutting edge tools, technologies and approaches have been implemented to increase understanding of the bovine immune system and mechanisms of pathogen control. Despite limited funding, compared to human immunological research, ILRAD/ILRI have made tremendous progress in bovine immunological research which remains a research focus at ILRI. Continue reading →

Livestock genomics for low-input systems

This poster, produced for the Tropentag 2014 conference, describes how the rapidly developing field of genomics can contribute to improved productivity in livestock production systems of developing countries. Continue reading →

East Coast fever vaccine national distribution launch

‘For four decades, the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its predecessor (the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases, ILRAD) have conducted research on the lethal tick-borne cattle disease known as East Coast fever. ILRI’s work has focused on developing a new-generation ‘subunit’ vaccine, comprising molecular components of the causative parasite, while also … Continue reading →

Research to control lung plague (CBPP) gets a major boost: New project launched

On 2 July 2012 a new project was launched to develop a novel subunit cattle vaccine for the control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), known as lung plague. This was announced by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF). ‘CIFSRF, … Continue reading →

Immunization of cattle with Ra86 impedes Rhipicephalus appendiculatus nymphal-to-adult molting – Highlighting our Publications

Commercial vaccines based on the tick gut protein Bm86 have been successful in controlling the one-host tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and provide heterologous protection against certain other non-target ixodid tick species. This cross protection, however, does not extend to the three-host tick R. appendiculatus, the vector of the protozoan parasite Theileria parva. When transmitted to … Continue reading →

From an aspiring teacher to an immunologist expert – Jan Naessens lab talk

Jan Naessens, is an immunology expert in livestock research working with the International Livestock Research institute (ILRI) Biotechnology Theme. In this interview we look at his career from the moment when he hardly dreamt of becoming a scientist, his contributions to immunology research, his optimism about CBBP research as well as other interests.   1. … Continue reading →

Scientists discuss current knowledge and research approaches that could lead to a next generation ECF vaccine

The next generation vaccine for East Coast fever (EFC), an important cattle disease was the discussion agenda in a 2.5 day workshop organized by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural-Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) on April 16-18. Stakeholders from Nairobi-ILRI, USA, UK, Belgium, … Continue reading →

Study shows promising new avenues to develop a product that could help in the control of Theileriosis

A recent study on ‘Identification of virulence factors of Theileria parva’ has confirmed the existence of a low virulent strain and identified the mechanism that was at the basis of this low virulence, showing some promising new avenues to develop a product that could help in the control of Theileriosis. This low virulent strain, Chitongo … Continue reading →

Economic values for disease resistance traits in dairy goat production systems in Kenya: Highlighting our publications

This study estimated economic values (EVs) for disease resistance traits for dairy/crossbred goats in Kenya. The traits mean somatic cell count (SCC, cells/μl) and faecal worm egg count (FEC, epg) were taken as indicator traits for the most prevalent diseases in the smallholder farms i.e., mastitis and helminthiosis, respectively. Economic weights were objectively assigned to … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Laboratory diagnostic of diseases hosted by animals in the PAZ project area

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), jointly with the University of Edinburgh (UK) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, with additional support from the Kenyan Department of Veterinary Services, operates a laboratory in the town of Busia, in Western Kenya.  It is here that the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project operates a joint … Continue reading →

AWARD Fellow, Sheila Ommeh participates at the International Women’s Day briefing event for British Parliamentary Group in London

Sheila Ommeh, ILRI scientist with Olivier Hanotte, former ILRI scientist and her PhD supervisor at the meeting with British parliamentarians on March 7 (photo credit: AWARD/Karen Homer) ‘On the eve of International Women’s Day and against the backdrop of deepening food crises across sub-Saharan Africa, two leading African women agricultural scientists joined U.K. experts at … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Pig farming and slaughtering in Western Kenya

Busia County, in Western Kenya is the main research area for the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project. Farmers in this County and its environs are slowly adopting pig farming as an alternative way of earning their livelihoods. There is close interaction between pigs and people as they are either tethered within the homestead … Continue reading →

The (neglected) ties binding human and animal health

“Animal diseases make up 60 per cent of all human pathogens and have a significant impact on poverty. Yet for many years, the worst diseases were sorely neglected by the international community. Eric Fevre describes how this turned around, and what researchers are now doing to tackle it. ‘In the far west of rural Kenya, … Continue reading →

Sheila Ommeh, her journey through agricultural research and passion for chicken research

Sheila Ommeh is one of the few scientists who are devoted chicken research, in this interview, we connect the dots from the moment her initial curiosity on agricultural research was stirred to her current research highlights. Q: Have you always wanted to be a scientist? SO: Yes, my curiosity started in the early 1990s when … Continue reading →

A minor role of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the control of a primary infection of cattle with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. Mycoides: Highlighting our publications

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides, is an important livestock disease in Africa. The current control measures rely on a vaccine with limited efficacy and occasional severe side effects. Knowledge of the protective arms of immunity involved in this disease will be beneficial for the development of an improved vaccine. In … Continue reading →