Location: Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research
Project Number: 6040-32000-075-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Aug 1, 2018
End Date: Jun 8, 2022
Objective:
1. Use a systems biology approach to elucidate host-pathogen interactions associated with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strain variation, immunosuppression, and pathogenesis.
2. Develop effective genomics and immune intervention strategies to prevent and control IBDV, including emerging very virulent and variant IBDV strains.
Approach:
These two objectives include a combination of basic and applied research that will generate knowledge and help develop tools to improve our ability to prevent and control infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) whose presence fosters high level antibiotic use in poultry production to control secondary bacterial infections. These research goals are highly interrelated and will be accomplished with similar tools and approaches. Thus, experiments will often contribute to more than one objective and use an experimental and systems biology approach. The first objective includes the characterization of new variant and very virulent strains of IBDV which constantly emerge in nature as well as the elucidation specific viral and host factors that contribute to host adaptation, immunosuppression, transmission and virulence. The second objective complements the first with a more in depth focus on how the virus changes under immune pressure, the development of improved vaccines, and understanding genetics of host restriction and resistance to infection and disease.
