Indonesia is experiencing the spread of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus, which is highly contagious and could threaten the livestock subsector, a key contributor to the national economy, while also leading to the suspension of livestock product exports. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the livestock sub sector in Indonesia is one of the key sectors in driving national development and strengthening the economy.
The research team addressing the threat to the livestock sub sector posed by the spread of the FMD virus, from the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University (SPs UGM) is taking preventive action through vaccination. The SPs UGM research team, consisting of Dr. drh. Asmarani Kusumawati, M.P., Dr. Dini Wahyu Kartika Sari, S.Psi., M.Si., Celine Tamara Siahu, S.Si., and Natalia Rara Kartika W., S.Si., has been conducting this project from March to November 2024.
The vaccine development is being carried out using DNA recombinant technology, which is currently trending as a more cost-effective and efficient alternative vaccine. The SPs UGM research team has designed a recombinant vaccine using recombinant DNA that encodes Viral Protein 1 (VP1), the antigenic protein of the FMD virus, as a candidate for the vaccine development. This innovative method not only has the potential to significantly reduce the impact of outbreaks but also opens new avenues in vaccination technology for the livestock industry.
“The expectation from this research is that it will serve as an effort to prevent and resolve the FMD issue in livestock, leading to a FMD-free Indonesia. This will improve the quality and quantity of livestock production, thus boosting the economy and national development,” said the SPs UGM Research Team.
The development of the recombinant FMD vaccine by the SPs UGM research team is a proactive step to protect Indonesia’s livestock subsector. By addressing the challenges posed by FMD, this initiative aims not only to safeguard animal health but also to enhance production and food security, ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic resilience.
Authors: Asmarani Kusumawati, Dini Wahyu Kartika Sari, Celine Tamara Siahu, Natalia Rara Kartika, Asti Rahmaningrum