08:28 AM EDT, 03/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Appili Therapeutics Inc. ( APLIF ) on Tuesday announced a publication in the journal Frontiers in Bacteriology on the prevention of tularemia. Appili's Director of Non-Clinical Research, Dr. Carl Gelhaus, Ph.D., together with medical doctors from the United States Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Ukrainian researchers published a perspective manuscript "Considerations for prevention of and emergency response to tularemia outbreaks in Ukraine: vaccine involvement".

The perspective manuscript explores the current war in Ukraine and the increased risk for outbreaks of tularemia.

Carl Gelhaus, Ph.D., Director of Non-Clinical Research of Appili Therapeutics ( APLIF ), said:. "Many of the conditions for tularemia outbreaks now exist in Ukraine, and their warfighters need protection. We suspected that rodent populations would explode and carry tularemia into war-affected areas. Even as we were preparing the manuscript, "Mouse fever", an infection of unknown etiology, was reported in news outlets, underscoring the urgency of making sure Ukrainians are protected from the risk of many infectious diseases, including tularemia."

ATI-1701 is Appili's potential first-in-class vaccine candidate for the prevention of infection with F. tularensis. Since it is a highly infectious pathogen capable of causing severe illness, medical counter measures for F. tularensis are a top biodefense priority for governments around the world, the statement noted.

There is currently no approved vaccine for the prevention of tularemia in the US or other major global markets.