Project Number: 6612-32000-048-08
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 01, 2002
End Date: Mar 31, 2007

Objective:
Develop a vaccine challenge model for evaluation of West Nile virus vaccine efficacy. Develop and evaluate a recombinant fowlpox vaccine with an avian influenza virus H7 hemagglutinin gene insert for ability to protect against highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza viruses.

Approach:
The study will develop a animal challenge model system to evaluate the efficacy of West Nile virus vaccines. This will utilize goose immunization and challenge with evaluation for virus (blood and respiratory and intestinal tracts), neutralizing serum antibodies, gross and microscopic lesions, and prevention of clinical signs and death. The avian influenza (AI) vaccine efficacy will utilize immunization of chickens and measuring various immunology parameters, and determining protection following challenge by highly pathogenic AI viruses. Prevention of challenge virus replication by the vaccine will be determined by classical virological methods and quantitative RT-PCR tests.