Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit
Project Number: 6040-32000-079-016-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2022
End Date: Oct 1, 2024
Objective:
Make mRNA vaccines which will be used to inoculate chickens to reduce levels of Salmonella Infantis. Cooperator will supply the mRNA vaccines, methods, and advice to help ARS produce and evaluate a working vaccine for use in chickens that will lead to immune reduction of S. Infantis in vaccinated chickens.
Approach:
Cooperator will design and manufacture mRNA vaccines which will be used to inoculate chickens to reduce levels of Salmonella Infantis. Cooperator will construct DNA from which they will synthesize mRNA of selected S. Infantis antigens expected to illicit an appropriate immune response in chickens to reduce the levels of S. Infantis. Cooperator will also package mRNA in lipid-nanoparticals (LNPs) for delivery to target host cells after inoculation. Cooperator will advise ARS scientists on methods to evaluate the mRNA vaccine expression in tissue culture, in eggs, and in chickens, and cooperator will supply mRNA constructs with reporter molecules to complete this work. Cooperator will continue to advise ARS scientists throughout the project.
