Project Number: 6205-32000-031-38
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Mar 01, 2012
End Date: Sep 30, 2015

Objective:
Obtain a thorough description of the white-tailed deer's immunological response upon exposure to tick protein to have a better undertanding of the white-tailed deer immune system and the development of immunological resistance to natural Boophilus tick infestation, which is necessary in order to design and develop an effective anti-tick vaccine for use in white-tailed deer.

Approach:
Initiate four study groups of 4 white-tailed deer of similar age per group (randomly assigned). Vaccinate deer at the start of week 1, 4, and 7 of the study. Group 1, 2, 3, and 4 are to be vaccinated with Bm86 plus adjuvant, ARS Antigen 1 plus adjuvant, Bm86 plus Antigen 1 plus adjuvant, or Adjuvant alone, respectively. Blood samples are to be drawn from each animal prior to each vaccination and every 4 weeks following the third vaccination for 24 weeks. Blood is to be collected (10 ml) from each deer into 12.5-ml sterile serum separator tubes (Corvac, Mansfield, MA) or other appropriate collection tubes compatible with serum fraction isolation. Serum is collected after centrifugation (3,400 RPM for 1 h at 25 deg C) and stored at -80 deg C. Serum antibody titers are to be determined using an antigen-specific ELISA to determine specific response to BM86 and ARS Antigen 1.