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

[Abstract from accompanying manuscript] Onchocerciasis (river blindness),
caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, 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. We
evaluated the immunogenicity and protective effects of co-administering
two leading O. volvulus-derived recombinant vaccine candidates (Ov-103 and
Ov-RAL2) in cattle with subsequent natural exposure to Onchocerca ochengi,
a close phylogenetic relative of O. volvulus. Immunisation induced strong
IgG responses against both vaccine candidates. Following natural exposure
to O. ochengi, vaccination status and resulting serum antibody response
was associated with delayed nodule development and onset of
microfilaridermia. Peptide arrays identified several Ov-103 and
Ov-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.