Project Number: 1940-32000-057-27
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Mar 01, 2011
End Date: Apr 30, 2013

Objective:
The objective of this agreement is to develop a number of monoclonal antibodies specific for T cell derived cytokines in cattle and swine and to develop a series of monoclonal antibodies to bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) gene products in order to develop a rapid method to tissue type cattle. The specific objectives are: 1. Produce paired monoclonal antibodies to porcine cytokines IL-13 and IL-15. 2. Produce paired mononclonal antibodies to bovine cytokines IL-13, IL-15, IL-17 and IL-21. 3. Produce a collection of monoclonal antibodies that will differentially bind alleles of the BoLA Class I and Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins that can be used to rapidly analyze blood samples and determine MHC gene expression in a given cow. Amendment 1: 4. Produce monoclonal antibodies to porcine immunoglobulins.

Approach:
ARS, PIADC and Green Mountain Antibodies will exchange reagents and produce monoclonal antibodies to cattle and swine proteins. Genes encoded with specific proteins will be cloned into the replication defective human adenovirus 5 vector (huAd5). Animal trials (mice, rabbit, cattle and swine) will be conducted and subsequent protein analysis conducted. Mice will then be immunized with Ad5 vectors expressing the protein. Mice will be tested for production of antibody reactive with the protein and positive mice will be tested for antibody production. In vitro screening will be conducted and the proteins generated will be purified.