Source: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE submitted to NRP
EVALUATION OF ALPHAVIRUS VECTORED AVIAN VIRUS PROTEINS AS VACCINES IN POULTRY
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
USDA INHOUSE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0405468
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 1, 2002
Project End Date
Jul 30, 2006
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
(N/A)
ATHENS,GA 30613
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
75%
Applied
25%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3113210109060%
3113210202040%
Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3210 - Egg-type chicken, live animal;

Field Of Science
1090 - Immunology; 2020 - Engineering;
Goals / Objectives
A. To develop and evaluate the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon gene delivery system as a mucosal vaccine for birds. B. To evaluate the avian tissues targeted by the alphavirus replicon system and determine the best packaging mechanism (i.e. coat proteins) for the alphavirus replicon system to infect and express antigens in host cells. C. To evaluate the best combination of influenza virus genes to produce an effective, long-lasting multivalent immune response.
Project Methods
The approach described in this CRADA are designed to determine whether in ovo and/or mucosal vaccination of an alpha virus replicon vaccine expressing AI proteins provide greater induction of immunity than the traditional parenteral route of vaccination.

Progress 08/01/02 to 07/30/06

Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a CRADA between ARS and Alphavax, Inc. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project (6612-32000-040-00D), Mucosal immunization to protect poultry against avian influenza (AI). The overall objective of the CRIS is the development of new vaccine approaches for controlling AI in poultry. A vaccine was prepared using the VEE viral vector. This viral vector is designed to only have one round of replication, therefore it is safer than live vaccines, but it produces both cell mediated and humoral immunity. Additional studies with the VEE vector were conducted to examine the protective role of influenza neuraminidase expressed proteins to provide protection from virulent challenge. The VEE vectors provided good but not complete protection against virulent challenge.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications


    Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

    Outputs
    4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a CRADA between ARS and Alphavax, Inc. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS (6612-32000-040-00D), Mucosal immunization to protect poultry against avian influenza (AI). The overall objective of the CRIS is the development of new vaccine approaches for controlling AI in poultry. A vaccine was prepared using the VEE viral vector. This viral vector is designed to only have one round of replication, therefore it is safer than live vaccines, but it produces both cell mediated and humoral immunity. A H5 vaccine was developed using a recent H5N1 virus from Asia in the alphavirus vector and was used to vaccinate chickens. The vectored virus after just a single injection was able to produce measurable antibody titers and the birds were protected from challenge. Additional studies will be conducted to evaluate antigenic drift in vaccine protection.

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications


      Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

      Outputs
      4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and Alphavax, Inc. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS (6612-32000- 040-00D), Mucosal immunization to protect poultry against avian influenza (AI). The overall objective of the CRIS is the development of new vaccine approaches for controlling AI in poultry. A vaccine was prepared using the VEE viral vector. This viral vector is designed to only have one round of replication, therefore it is safer than live vaccines, but it produces both cell mediated and humoral immunity. Vaccines were produced against both H5 and H7 viruses and were tested by several routes in chickens. This included a mucosal route of infection, which potentially means this vaccine could be given by a mass vaccination route of administration. On going plans are to improve the immune response in chickens to these vaccines.

      Impacts
      (N/A)

      Publications