Vaccines against Coronaviruses of Veterinary Importance

Abstract

The COVID-19-pandemic has unprecedently spurred vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Around 170 vaccine projects are listed by WHO and 29 have already entered clinical phase trials. But as scientist all over the world are striving to develop an efficacious vaccine it may be helpful to risk a glance into the backyard of coronavirus research. In veterinary medicine there is a long record of vaccine development against coronaviruses. This review focuses on vaccination approaches against coronaviruses in chicken, pigs and cats. Strain variation, induction of effective, mucosal immunity and avoidance of immunopathology are just a few of the manifold challenges to be faced on the way to the efficacious coronavirus vaccine. Although it proved hard to achieve sterile immunity, in veterinary medicine live-attenuated vaccines helped to reduce clinical symptoms and minimize economic losses. In the case of SARS-CoV-2 innovative reverse vaccinology may be the conduit to surpass all obstacles and rapidly provide an efficacious vaccine against the pandemic virus.