Recipient Organization
PLUM ISLAND ANIMAL DIS CENTER
(N/A)
ORIENT POINT,NY 11944
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
20%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a significant threat to agriculture in the United States. There are currently no commercial vaccines available to protect pigs against infection with ASFV and disease can result in devastating losses with up to 100% mortality. Of special concern is the highly pathogenic Georgia isolate, which is currently causing the current outbreaks all across Asia and Eastern Europe. ARS, PIADC has recently discovered several new experimental live-attenuated vaccine candidates, of which ASFV-G-delta I177L is the best candidate. This research project seeks to determine the stability of ASF Vaccine candidate ASFV-G-delta I177L, after lyophilization. Specific objectives include: 1. Test stability of ASFV-G-'I177L to be lyophilized 2. Compare different formulations for freeze drying and stability over time 3. Test the ability of lyophilized ASFV to vaccinate swine against ASFV-Georgia
Project Methods
Several different lyophilization formulations consisting of bovine serum albumin (BSA), l-glutamic acid (L-Glu), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextran (DEX) to test ASFV-G-delta I177L for stability after lyophilization will be conducted. We will test several different formulations and after lyophilization we will test for infectivity of the virus, by viral titrations. Successful formulations will then be tested for storage at different temperatures for set periods of time between 1 week and six months. The most stable formulation of ASFV-G-delta I177L will be reconstituted and tested for vaccine efficacy in pigs against ASFV-Georgia.