Location: Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research
Project Number: 3020-32000-010-009-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2015
End Date: Aug 31, 2020
Objective:
The objective of this cooperative agreement is to evaluate the mechanism of action of novel adjuvants for vaccines that can ultimately protect swine, sheep and cattle from Bunyaviridae and Orbiviridae virus infection.
Approach:
The novel adjuvants are pro-inflammatory and the mechanisms of interacting with the cells that initiate adaptive immune responses need to be characterized to allow development of safe and immunogenic vaccines. Specifically, we will hire a postdoctoral fellow to work in the Innate Immunity and Inflammation Laboratory at Kansas State University and conduct the following research under the joint supervision of Dr. Jishu Shi (KSU) and Dr. Scott McVey (USDA). The sub-objectives are:
a) Evaluate adjuvants that can be used with the attenuated vaccine candidates to improve vaccine safety, immunogenicity and enhance stability.
b) Evaluate adjuvants that can be used with the inactivated and recombinant vaccine candidates to improve vaccine safety, immunogenicity and enhance stability.
c) Assess the potential of trans-dermal, micro-dose vaccine delivery devices.
