Location: Virus and Prion Research
Project Number: 5030-32000-231-126-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2026
End Date: Jul 31, 2029
Objective:
Pathologic investigation of endemic and emerging influenza A virus in swine in tissues collected from in vivo pathogenesis, transmission, and vaccine protection studies conducted at USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center.
Approach:
Macroscopic and microscopic investigations of organ systems affected by influenza A virus infection are critical to develop a baseline of criteria from which to evaluate changes in viral genomes impact on virulence, transmission, or efficacy of vaccine intervention. Scoring systems to quantify lesions in tissues will be developed or refined. Special stains to identify virus antigen or nucleic acid will be assessed to identify sites of viral attachment, replication, or tissue injury. Additional transcriptomic and proteomic analysis for elucidation of viral pathogenesis within infected tissues will be assessed as warranted.