SjCTPI vaccine

The SjCTPI vaccine is a DNA-based (plasmid DNA) veterinary vaccine designed as a transmission-blocking intervention against zoonotic schistosomiasis caused by *Schistosoma japonicum*. Developed by Griffith University's Menzies Health Institute, the vaccine consists of a plasmid DNA construct encoding the *S. japonicum* Chinese strain triose-phosphate isomerase (TPI) antigen fused with heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which acts as an adjuvant/carrier. The vaccine is administered to bovine reservoir hosts, such as cattle and water buffalo, typically via a heterologous prime-boost intramuscular injection regimen. Its mechanism of action involves inducing an immune response against the TPI glycolytic enzyme, which is essential across all life cycle stages of the parasite. By reducing worm burdens and egg excretion in bovines, the vaccine indirectly reduces the contamination of the environment and the subsequent risk of human infection. It has been evaluated in a large-scale Phase IIIa cluster randomized controlled trial in the Philippines as part of an integrated control strategy.

Other names

S. japonicum Chinese TPI vaccineSjCTPI-Hsp70 DNA vaccineSjCTPI-Hsp-70 DNA vaccineSjCTPI-Hsp 70 DNA vaccineSchistosoma japonicum triose-phosphate isomerase vaccine