Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-32000-117-003-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2023
End Date: Sep 30, 2024
Objective:
To inform porcine susceptibility, resilience and resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection and realated control strategies, using genomic data from samples collected in a pig congenital viral infection model. Data generated from this multi-national collaborative project will inform disease treatment and aid selection of gilts within swine herds, thus, decreasing the economic burden of PRRS. In addition to the scientific results generated, a partnership with a historically black university will be initiated to further the agencies' diversity and inclusion goals.
Approach:
Congenital infection with PRRSV results in fetuses with various levels of viral infection and pathogenesis. Using samples collected in the pregnant gilt model of PRRSV infection, samples will be evaluated for expression of genes associated with PRRS susceptibility, resilience and resistance. Several tissues have been collected from this model and archived. RNA will be extracted from samples deemed most informative and used for new approaches for transciptome analyses and bioinformatics for control of disease responses. It will elicit details about which genetic pathways are involved with transmission and susceptibility, resilience and resistance to this virus. We hope to identify why certain fetuses within a pregnant gilt's litter are resistant to PRRSV infection.
Reporting: The primary investigator from USDA ARS will ensure that the described research aligns with the in-house project goals and USDA's mission.
