How Vaccines Protect Pigs from Respiratory Bacteria
A 1999 patent describing a vaccine for swine that uses specific bacterial proteins to trigger an immune response against the lung disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
Original patent title: “Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae transferrin binding protein vaccines and uses thereof”
A 1999 patent describing a vaccine for swine that uses specific bacterial proteins to trigger an immune response against the lung disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Granted to University of Saskatchewan in 1999 with 12 claims and 3 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a vaccine composition designed to prevent pneumonia in pigs caused by the bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. It works by using specific transferrin binding proteins—molecules the bacteria use to steal iron from the host—as antigens to train the pig's immune system. By introducing these proteins, the vaccine helps the animal recognize and fight off the infection before it causes severe lung damage. The claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → also cover the use of cytolysins, which are toxins produced by the bacteria, to further strengthen the immune response.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover vaccines for humans or other species besides swine
- Does not cover methods for treating respiratory infections caused by viruses
- Does not cover generic iron-binding proteins from bacteria other than A. pleuropneumoniae
- Does not cover diagnostic kits or methods for detecting the bacteria in the environment
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The researchers targeted the bacteria's iron-acquisition system. By blocking the protein the bacteria use to steal iron, they essentially starve the pathogen while simultaneously marking it for destruction by the host's immune system.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Porcine respiratory disease vaccines
Bacterial subunit vaccines for livestock
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a major economic burden for the global pork industry, causing high mortality rates and significant losses. This patent provided a molecular blueprint for creating subunit vaccines, which are safer and more precise than older methods using whole, killed bacteria.
Filed
September 19, 1996
Granted
March 2, 1999
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Animal health companies such as Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Merck Animal Health continue to develop advanced vaccines for porcine respiratory diseases, building on the foundational understanding of bacterial virulence factors established in the 1990s.
Market impact
This patent helped shift the veterinary industry toward rational vaccine design, moving away from crude bacterins toward targeted subunit vaccines. It enabled more effective disease management in intensive farming operations by reducing the reliance on antibiotics for treating respiratory outbreaks.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a vaccine composition designed to prevent pneumonia in pigs caused by the bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. It works by using specific transferrin binding proteins—molecules the bacteria use to steal iron from the host—as antigens to train the pig's immune system. By introducing these proteins, the vaccine helps the animal recognize and fight off the infection before it causes severe lung damage. The claims also cover the use of cytolysins, which are toxins produced by the bacteria, to further strengthen the immune response.
The clever bit
The researchers targeted the bacteria's iron-acquisition system. By blocking the protein the bacteria use to steal iron, they essentially starve the pathogen while simultaneously marking it for destruction by the host's immune system.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover vaccines for humans or other species besides swine
- Does not cover methods for treating respiratory infections caused by viruses
- Does not cover generic iron-binding proteins from bacteria other than A. pleuropneumoniae
- Does not cover diagnostic kits or methods for detecting the bacteria in the environment
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
8/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$14K – $43K
Midpoint $27K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
12 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Rossi-Campos, A., Potter, A. A., Gerlach, G. F., & Willson, P. J. (1999). How Vaccines Protect Pigs from Respiratory Bacteria (U.S. Patent No. 5,876,725). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5876725/synagis-palivizumab
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Vaccines Protect Pigs from Respiratory Bacteria cover?
A 1999 patent describing a vaccine for swine that uses specific bacterial proteins to trigger an immune response against the lung disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
Who owns patent US 5876725?
University of Saskatchewan owns this patent, granted in 1999.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5876725 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a major economic burden for the global pork industry, causing high mortality rates and significant losses. This patent provided a molecular blueprint for creating subunit vaccines, which are safer and more precise than older methods using whole, killed bacteria.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover vaccines for humans or other species besides swine
Patent monitoring