Location: Research Programs
Project Number: 3022-32000-018-042-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 20, 2024
End Date: Jul 19, 2026
Objective:
The overarching goal is to use quantitative proteomics to decipher the complex virus-host interactions that influence the severity of infectious diseases like Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). Despite the efficacy of current vaccine strategies in managing FMD, various challenges remain including, the strain specificity, high mutation rate of the virus, short duration of immunity, differential host responses and others. Given the capacity for FMDV to infect various species, there may be a need for species-specific vaccine formulations. In this project we aim to map out the changes to the proteomic landscapes of cells infected with FMDV in primary livestock hosts (cattle and pigs) to understand how species-specific host proteins contribute to attenuation or more severe infection. Considering FMDV's rapid mutation rate, we will evaluate samples infected with various serotypes and attenuated strains. Furthermore, we aim to identify potential biomarkers indicative of host immune responses, both in natural infections and following vaccination. This will involve a detailed proteomic analysis of tissue samples from healthy and infected animals, with a particular emphasis on mucosal tissues where FMDV initially replicates. The insights gained will be instrumental in developing new and effective strategies to combat FMD.
Approach:
1: Determination of host-specific proteome remodeling in bovine and porcine cells infected with FMDV WT and other attenuated strains.
2: Evaluating proteomic profiles from mucosal tissues in naïve animals.
3: Host-specific evaluation of proteomic changes in mucosal tissues in infected animals with FMDV WT and attenuated strains.
