Project Number: 1245-32000-094-01
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 16, 2010
End Date: Sep 15, 2013

Objective:
Identify functional genetic variations that modulate the immune responses to swine mucosal pathogens; and determine the genetic profiles of ”good responders” to swine vaccines.

Approach:
Out-bred commercial breeds of swine will be vaccinated with recombinant products from bacterial and viral pathogens by various routes including mucosal exposure with novel and conventional adjuvants and vaccine platforms. Local and systemic responses to vaccination will be evaluated by measuring antigen specific antibody isotype responses in the serum, and eye, lung, and intestinal fluids, and local and whole blood changes in cytokine and chemokine biomarkers by gene expression. This information will be used by both ARS and the COOPERATOR to jointly develop novel adaptive and acquired immune readout systems to evaluate vaccine efficacy as it applies to swine directly and as a second species for testing important new vaccine constructs.