Towards a recombinant antigen vaccine against Onchocerca volvulus

Various approaches to identify potential vaccine candidates against onchocerciasis resulted in the cloning of recombinant proteins, which confer protection in vaccinated mice. The development of an effective vaccine against onchocerciasis has been the focus of a research program supported by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation from 1985 to 1999. The approaches used to clone potential protective antigens and the successful vaccination of animals with some of the antigens are summarized here.