Project Number: 3625-32000-097-00
Project Type: Other

Start Date: Dec 10, 2009
End Date: Dec 09, 2014

Objective:
1. Identify swine influenza virus strain specific antigenic epitopes to support the development of serological assays for surveillance in swine. 2. Compare pathogenesis and transmissibility of selected isolates of the wild-type novel A/HINI virus from animals (e.g., Canadian, Chilean and Argentinean viruses) and correlate with genetic and antigenic changes. 3. Determine efficacy of conventional inactivated swine influenza vaccines against emerging isolates of pandemic A/H1Nl from animals (e.g., Canadian, Chilean and Argentinean viruses). 4. Evaluate a reverse genetics-derived modified live vaccine in pigs and other susceptible animal hosts against pandemic A/H1N1. 5. Evaluate an adenovirus-vectored influenza virus vaccine in pigs.

Approach:
1. Conduct immunological investigations of influenza A virus components that lead to immune responses against specific epitopes that may enable serological surveillance for the 2009 A/H1N1 in swine and determine whether heterologous immunity against endemic swine influenza viruses interferes with serological surveillance methods. 2. Conduct an animal study to determine the pathogenesis and transmissibility of selected isolates of the wild-type novel A/HINI virus from animals and correlate with genetic and antigenic changes. 3. Conduct an animal study to determine the efficacy of conventional inactivated swine influenza vaccines against emerging isolates of pandemic A/H1Nl from animals. 4. Conduct an animal study utilizing a reverse genetics-derived modified live vaccine in pigs and other susceptible animal hosts against pandemic A/H1N1. 5. Conduct an animal study evaluating an adenovirus-vectored H1N1 influenza virus vaccine in pigs.