Project Number: 3625-32000-084-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 09, 2006
End Date: Nov 08, 2011

Objective:
1)Develop effective strategies to prevent B. abortus or B. suis infections in free-ranging wildlife (bison, cervidae, feral swine) by characterizing immune responses, and determining safety and efficacy of available brucellosis vaccines. (2) Enhance immunologic responses of domestic livestock or free-ranging wildlife to brucellosis vaccines by use of adjuvants, vaccine engineering, or alternative delivery methods. (3) Develop and evaluate molecular markers to assist in diagnosis and epidemiology of brucellosis. (4) Characterize the genomic determinants of virulence and pathogenicity in wild-type Brucella species and vaccine strains.

Approach:
The project will use standardized methods to evaluate protection of brucellosis vaccines in domestic livestock or wildlife reservoirs of brucellosis. In an effort to develop improved brucellosis vaccines, immunologic methods will be used to identify antigens involved in protection, and immunomodulators which enhance vaccine efficacy. Molecular procedures will be used to develop assays which allow epidemiologic traceback of brucella strains, and characterize genes involved in virulence and pathogenicity. BSL-2 Cancelled 11/17/08 (IBC-#0199) BSL-3 Cancelled 11/17/08 (IBC-#0198) BSL-3 Recertified February 3, 2009 (IBC-#0258) BSL-2, BSL-3N; Certified March 21, 2008 (IBC-#0257A) BSL-2/BSL-1N/BSL-3N; Recertified June 5, 2008, IBC#0282. BSL-2, BSL-3; Recertified February 9, 2008. (IBC#0290) BSL-2, BSL-3; Recertified February 9, 2008. (IBC#0291) BSL-3, BSL-2; Certified November 9, 2007. (IBC#0295) BSL2, BSL3, BSL3-N Certified October 21, 2008. (IBC#0313)