2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) To develop knowledge, diagnostic tools, and control practices and technology to address the threat posed to the U.S. Pork Industry by Classical Swine Fever (CSF), African Swine Fever (ASF) and of other diseases of high consequence. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and African Swine Fever (ASF) are highly infectious diseases of swine. As foreign animal diseases (FADs), an outbreak of CSF, ASF or an unknown threat would significantly affect the U.S. pork industry and export markets. Improved CSF marker live-attenuated vaccines are needed to further reduce the risk posed by this FAD. There are no commercial ASF vaccines, which is a significant gap in the available interventions to stop the spread of ASF. Furthermore, there is a gap in our understanding on the mechanism of ASF pathogenesis. Other needs include improved diagnostic approaches for conducting surveillance. Underlying this research is improved diagnostics and surveillance. 3.Progress Report A research plan has been developed to begin investigation on Classical Swine Fever (CSF). The project will be broken down into three sections including i) protein expression in bacteria, of the CSF envelope proteins (E2 and E-rns), ii) chimera development of the CSF proteins with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus, and iii) mutation of the CSF proteins for specific recognition by just the CSF virus and not other pestiviruses, including bovine viral diarrhea. Sequences have been identified for the proteins in (i) and work has begun to express these proteins in bacteria in the lab. This research supports NP103 Action Plan Components 1. Biodefense Research, and 3. Prevent and Control Zoonotic Diseases. ADODR is directly involved in performance of the research and also monitors activities to evaluate research progress through site visits, meeting at conferences and through email and phone calls.