Location: Virus and Prion Research
Project Number: 5030-32000-231-087-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Sep 30, 2021
End Date: Sep 29, 2025
Objective:
The purpose of this project is to study influenza A viruses (IAV) in swine hosts. The studies will include analyses of the swine host response to influenza virus infection. We are particularly interested in the pathology, transmissibility and/or antibody response to swine and seasonal influenza viruses and/or candidate vaccine virus (CVV) infections. Because swine hosts represent a significant reservoir for novel and emerging influenza viruses that are genetically and antigenically different from those that circulate in humans, it is critical that these studies are performed to understand their pandemic potential and risk to veterinary and public health.
Approach:
1. The following studies will be performed to assess the pathogenicity, transmissibility, infectivity and antibody response to swine and seasonal influenza viruses and/or candidate vaccine viruses.
a. Assess in vivo pathogenicity, transmissibility and infectivity of swine and seasonal influenza viruses and/or candidate vaccine viruses in swine using a simulated natural route of exposure (i.e., intranasal inoculation).
b. Understand the host response to swine and seasonal influenza viruses and/or candidate vaccine viruses in swine, with particular emphasis on obtaining post-infection antisera for antigenic characterization.
c. Detection of novel or emerging swine influenza viruses in select U.S. swine populations by active surveillance, mobile sequencing and genetic characterization.
2. In vitro characterization studies of virus samples collected through preexisting surveillance networks will be performed to understand the pandemic potential of swine influenza viruses and their risk to veterinary and public health.
a. Detection of novel or emerging swine influenza viruses in select U.S. swine populations will be performed by genetic and antigenic characterization of virus samples collected during routine surveillance networks within the USDA/ARS/NADC.
b. Viral genomes of the samples will be determined by sequencing and the information will be used to sub-type the viruses. Bioinformatic analyses will be used to identify and select samples for subsequent phenotypic characterization.
