Location: Grain Quality and Structure Research
Project Number: 3020-43440-002-027-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
End Date: Aug 31, 2024
Objective:
The objective is to develop methods to evaluate animal responses for two areas of ongoing study: 1) arboviral infections, and 2) treatment with sorghum polyphenols.
Approach:
The goal of this collaboration is to investigate animal responses in support of two CGAHR CRIS projects. Assay systems will be developed to better understand the pathogenesis of arboviruses (principally Japanese encephalitis virus) and to investigate the biologic effects of sorghum phenolic compounds. Animal models will be designed and evaluated for responses using methods including biomarker identification, evaluation of physiological responses, immunological assay development, and molecular assay development. By providing needed information about in vivo responses to infections/treatments, these assay systems will help advance both the arbovirus research program and the sorghum research program. The resulting information is anticipated to add to the collective expertise in the U.S. to enhance our response capabilities to indigenous and foreign disease threats to livestock, and to identify novel health-promoting benefits of sorghum foods and feed. This agreement will establish funding for services provided by Cooperator as well as support a postdoctoral fellow for two years to work with the principle investigators to fulfill these objectives. Trainees will be selected based upon previous experience, accomplishments and interests to participate in projects and be trained in techniques related to research on mammalian health and disease. Complimentary expertise of ARS and Cooperator would provide training to include virus propagation, transmission studies at BSL-3, immunological analysis, experimental design, statistical analysis of data, and clinical veterinary medicine. Studies will include fundamental physiological, cellular, molecular, and immunological analysis of animal systems following virus challenge or provision of sorghum feed.
