Location: Research Programs
Project Number: 3022-32000-018-046-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Oct 1, 2026
Objective:
To develop reagents and new technology for detection and surveillance of lumpy skin disease that could pose emerging animal disease threats. The area of focus will be directed toward diagnostic assays of lumpy skin disease (LSD) viruses in cattle. More specific and sensitive reagents to aid on the LSD diagnostic will facilitate development of countermeasures to control and eradicate LSD. Additionally, this proposal will allow ARS scientists to improve tools for surveillance and better understanding of LSD host immune response for development of countermeasures for LSD in cattle.
Approach:
This agreement will have 3 major approaches: Expression and purification of LSD antigens; Development of and indirect ELISA, and Testing of Monoclonal antibodies to be applied on a competitive ELISA.
The cooperator will optimize the indirect ELISA with a several parameters: type of plate (medium or low binding); choose the optimum blocking buffer; optimization of diluent and antibodies conjugates for the assay; testing of blocking buffers to decrease the assay background; test of preservatives and stabilizers of reagents for the assay with final production lots for ELISA kit commercialization.
The final approach will test and optimize monoclonal antibodies for a future development of competitive ELISA.
