Project Number: 1245-32000-098-06
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 13, 2010
End Date: Dec 31, 2013

Objective:
The specific objectives for this agreement are to Identify differentially expressed (DE) genes in blood in response to PRRSV infection; Determine putative gene sets and pathways that predict a pig's ability to clear PRRSV infection and maintain weight gain; and Validate utility of gene sets and pathways for prediction of responsiveness to PRRSV infections in multiple populations. Predictive blood tests of pigs with improved PRRS disease resistance and growth maintenance; increased understanding of mechanisms involved in pig responses to PRRSV infection; scientific publications.

Approach:
The University will check for differential gene expression of targeted genes e.g., CD163, SIGLEC1, PTEN, MMP9, IL10, FOXP3, TBET, GATA3, CCL21, MX1, etc., using RT-PCR on PRRS Host Genetics Consortium (PHGC) samples representing different virus/weight categories. This information that will be used in conjunction with analyses collected on the same sample sets at Michigan State University and BARC. For the third objective, the University will help identify and provide samples collected from recent U.S. PRRS infections.