Progress 10/01/23 to 09/30/24
Outputs
PROGRESS REPORT Objectives (from AD-416): The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which NBAF will enhance America⿿s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the NBAF Strategic Plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. Approach (from AD-416): The goal of National Program 103, Animal Health, is to protect and ensure the safety of the Nation⿿s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Basic and applied research approaches will be applied to solve animal health problems of high national priority. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will take over the mission of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and be the ARS lead facility for Foreign Animal Disease research. NBAF will 1) provide solutions to problems associated with the control, eradication, and recovery of foreign and emerging diseases, and 2) maintain a portfolio of expertise that will allow ARS to rapidly respond to new and unforeseen disease threats. The research addresses the following research components in the 2022- 2027 Animal Health National Program (NP 103) Action Plan: 1) Component 1: Biodefense, Problem Statement 1A, Control and eradicate foreign animal diseases and Problem Statement 1B: Predict and prevent emerging diseases. Further, the research addresses ARS Strategic Plan Goal 4.3 to protect and ensure the safety of the nation⿿s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Objective 1. The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will enhance America⿿s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the NBAF Strategic Plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. A Scialog initiative was funded to focus on the theme of Mitigating Zoonotic Threats. Scialog is an innovative approach to building collaborations among a community of early career scientists developed by the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement (RCSA). A series of three annual Scialog meetings on Mitigating Zoonotic Threats were conducted to foster new collaborative projects among Scialog Fellows. It is expected that this project will impact the animal public health field by initiating novel interdisciplinary collaborations among earl career scientists. All of the 15 funded proposals have produced scientific results, and several have resulted in additional grant funding for the Scialog partners. The final year proposals have been funded. An additional effort was funded to integrate into established programs for force health and health security, focused on suppressing known and emerging environmental pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis, malaria, Zika, and dengue. This will allow success metrics to be reliably evaluated, due to clearly defined situational awareness and data needs, access to pilot environments, and accepted countermeasures. Selection of pilot sites will consider biosecurity aspects near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has been the source of novel outbreaks, such as malaria and hantavirus in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The outputs of this demonstrator will include direct measures of benefits to force health protection and health security missions, reusable bio- hardening blueprints, and operating requirements for adaptable biosensing and Artificial Intelligence infrastructure. The work resulted in the discovery and description of a shift in Japanese encephalitis virus genotype 1 being the dominant virus in circulation in 2021 to the rare genotype 5 being the only detected genotype in South Korea in 2023. This shift was associated to the identification of new vector species. The identification of a new genotype circulation and in new vector species has resulted in changes to countermeasure planning such as when and where mosquito population management methods must focus. During 2024 the Phase 3 of the Bio-Safety Level-4 (BSL-4) suit development project was completed. In Phase 3, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) works towards the following objectives: Component and interfaces testing according to requirements developed during Phase 1 and suit design developed in Phase 2. Revision to the initial BSL-4 ensemble design according to feedback on the prototypes developed during Phase 2. Production of six prototype BSL-4 ensembles. Testing and evaluation of BSL-4 ensembles according to metrics, specifications, and requirements developed during Phase 1. Solicitation of end-user feedback on finished prototypes. Manufacturer selection and manufacturing plan development. The manufacturing plan will include product technical data package creation that will detail the product design, bill of materials, equipment information, production instructions, supply chain information, testing requirements and product pricing forecast / modelling. To date, a prototype suit has been built with non-Berry Compliant materials for presentation at the Phase 2 user evaluation event. Materials used have a path to Berry Compliance (i.e. can be made domestically but have high minimum order quantities prohibitive to prototyping). The suit built with Phase 3 funding was the users favorite for materials and components, with 88% of the 104 users surveyed citing preference for the Phase 3 funded suit. At the conclusion of Phase 2, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data gathered at the user evaluation events at three government BSL-4 labs and summarize it into a list of 46 changes and tests to implement in Phase 3. Currently, AFFOA is working to close out Phase 2 and kick-off Phase 3. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 01 Scialog Workshops. Scialog Workshops. 3 annual conferences completed. Scialog workshops, which are short for "science + dialog", are important because they help early career scientists expand their research, form multidisciplinary teams, and collaborate on projects. The workshops are designed to spark creative ideas and scientific breakthroughs by maximizing interactions between researchers with different perspectives and experiences. 02 Bio-Safety Level-4 (BSL-4) prototype suit construction. Bio-Safety Level-4 (BSL-4) suit constructed from materials not compliant with Phase 2 contract for presentation at user evaluation event. The suit funded by Phase 3 was preferred by 88% of the users over the other suits presented.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Olajiga, O.M., Jameson, S.B., Carter, B.H., Wesson, D.M., Mitzel, D.N., Londono-Renteria, B. 2024. Artificial feeding system for vector-borne disease studies. Biology. 13(3). Article 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ biology13030188.
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Progress 10/01/22 to 09/30/23
Outputs
PROGRESS REPORT Objectives (from AD-416): The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which NBAF will enhance America⿿s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the NBAF Strategic Plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. Approach (from AD-416): The goal of National Program 103, Animal Health, is to protect and ensure the safety of the Nation⿿s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Basic and applied research approaches will be applied to solve animal health problems of high national priority. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will take over the mission of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and be the ARS lead facility for Foreign Animal Disease research. NBAF will 1) provide solutions to problems associated with the control, eradication, and recovery of foreign and emerging diseases, and 2) maintain a portfolio of expertise that will allow ARS to rapidly respond to new and unforeseen disease threats. The research addresses the following research components in the 2022- 2027 Animal Health National Program (NP 103) Action Plan: 1) Component 1: Biodefense, Problem Statement 1A, Control and eradicate foreign animal diseases and Problem Statement 1B: Predict and prevent emerging diseases. Further, the research addresses ARS Strategic Plan Goal 4.3 to protect and ensure the safety of the nation⿿s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Objective 1: Cooperators at Texas Tech University (TTU) performed mosquito population surveillance and arbovirus testing for St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and West Nile virus (WNV) during Fiscal Year 2023. A total of 15,729 mosquitoes were collected. Tick collection efforts were also initiated in February 2023 with the aim of testing ticks collected from wild ruminants for various pathogens that may threaten domestic livestock and public health. Additionally, TTU collaborators established the Western Texas Regional Sequencing Data and Sample Repository for Arthropod-borne, Zoonotic and Other Infectious Diseases to collect, analyze and archive biological samples and data associated with suspected emerging and confirmed outbreaks of infectious diseases threatening public health. Collaborations between USDA ARS, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, Kansas, the ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa, and the ScienceBound program at Iowa State University (ISU) continued in FY 2023. The NBAF attending veterinarian and ARS biosafety officer provided virtual talks to ScienceBound students about career paths that facilitate high-containment laboratory research. Additionally, four ScienceBound students participated in summer programs shadowing professionals at the NADC. Finally, the Center Director from the NADC participated with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to speak to 20 ScienceBound Students at ISU. Collaborations between USDA ARS, APHIS, and the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) continued in FY 2023. The 3-year program effort named Scialog, which culminate September 7th-10th, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. In FY 2023, the 2nd year of the program, seven multidisciplinary teams of early career scientists received funding to support their research proposals to address emerging diseases threats. The 18 individual awards of $50,000 each in direct costs will go to 16 researchers from a variety of institutions, including two USDA agencies working together at NBAF-APHIS and NBAF-ARS. The funded projects include five new partnerships among USDA and academic scientists. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 01 Creation of new research spotlight workshop. USDA-ARS National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, Kansas, and Texas Tech University (TTU), held the first Collaborative Research Spotlight Workshop in a newly formed annual series. This two-day event developed to explore new areas of collaboration between the two institutions, included research presentations from USDA and TTU and a brainstorming session. Topics covered during the workshop included Genetics and Crop Management, Animal and Veterinary Science including High Containment Labs, Fiber Production and Use, Food Safety, and Soil and Water Management. This collaboration will directly benefit the NBAF and will contribute to the development of a strong partnership with TTU to address critical research areas in animal diseases.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/21 to 09/30/22
Outputs
PROGRESS REPORT Objectives (from AD-416): The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which NBAF will enhance America�s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the NBAF Strategic Plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. Approach (from AD-416): The goal of National Program 103, Animal Health, is to protect and ensure the safety of the Nation�s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Basic and applied research approaches will be applied to solve animal health problems of high national priority. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will take over the mission of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and be the ARS lead facility for Foreign Animal Disease research. NBAF will 1) provide solutions to problems associated with the control, eradication, and recovery of foreign and emerging diseases, and 2) maintain a portfolio of expertise that will allow ARS to rapidly respond to new and unforeseen disease threats. The research addresses the following research components in the 2022- 2027 Animal Health National Program (NP 103) Action Plan: 1) Component 1: Biodefense, Problem Statement 1A, Control and eradicate foreign animal diseases and Problem Statement 1B: Predict and prevent emerging diseases. Further, the research addresses ARS Strategic Plan Goal 4.3 to protect and ensure the safety of the nation�s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Objective 1. The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which ARS in Manhattan, Kansas, will enhance America�s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the ARS�s strategic plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, the creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing the participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. A partnership was established with the Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), at Texas Tech University for the following project: Detection and Characterization of Arboviruses and Environmental Influences on Transmission at the U.S. Wildlife and Livestock Interface. Activities conducted by TIEHH researchers directly in support the project objective, included ordering of primers and probes for Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) and Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV), and screening of mammalian and arthropod tissues and specimens. The TIEHH research team coordinated with a local private ranch owner to opportunistically collect post-mortem blood and tissue samples during a feral swine population reduction operation. Tissue samples were processed and stored in formaldehyde and frozen. Feral swine samples will be screened for JEV. A cell culture room has been established in the TIEHH biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory for support of this project. Additionally, mosquito samples in Lubbock County will be screened for JEV. A partnership was developed to better understand the epidemiology of Heartwater and to assess the risk of expansion of this disease and its vector, within the Caribbean region and beyond. Due to recruitment delays the initiation of the project has just been initiated. Two well-qualified graduate students have been identified to carry out the research and are currently receiving training in the required skills. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 01 System for screening wildlife for viruses. The transmission of pathogens between wildlife and domestic animals is a poorly understood threat to the prevention and control of infectious diseases. To develop new systems to better understand the maintenance and transmission of insect-transmitted viruses at the interface of wildlife and livestock in the United States, researchers at Texas Tech University, in collaboration with ARS researchers in Manhattan, Kansas, established a system to collect bio samples from feral swine and screen them for selected foreign viruses using molecular techniques. This system will provide baseline information on circulating viruses and support efforts on early detection and warning for viral pathogens.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The Agrosecurity Partnerships for Innovative Research (ASPIRE) Program provides the framework by which NBAF will enhance America�s agricultural biosecurity by forming strategic partnerships to support the NBAF Strategic Plan and National Biodefense Strategy. This includes facilitating regional, national, and international collaborations, performing research gap analyses and capability assessments, creation of research and response networks, spurring innovation and enhancing participation of underrepresented populations within the animal-health scientific enterprise. Approach (from AD-416): The goal of National Program 103, Animal Health, is to protect and ensure the safety of the Nation�s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Basic and applied research approaches will be applied to solve animal health problems of high national priority. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will take over the mission of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and be the ARS lead facility for Foreign Animal Disease research. NBAF will 1) provide solutions to problems associated with the control, eradication, and recovery of foreign and emerging diseases, and 2) maintain a portfolio of expertise that will allow ARS to rapidly respond to new and unforeseen disease threats. The research addresses the following research components in the 2022- 2027 Animal Health National Program (NP 103) Action Plan: 1) Component 1: Biodefense, Problem Statement 1A, Control and eradicate foreign animal diseases and Problem Statement 1B: Predict and prevent emerging diseases. Further, the research addresses ARS Strategic Plan Goal 4.3 to protect and ensure the safety of the nation�s agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. The U.S. Federal and University Biocontainment Facilities Network was officially launched with a 1.5-day inaugural workshop, held virtually on May 5-6, 2021. Representatives from 16 member institutions across 10 states participated in the workshop, representing 6 academic and 10 federal entities. Membership is inclusive of institutions with mission interests spanning livestock, wildlife, and public health with Biosafety Level 2, 3, 3 agriculture, 4 biocontainment capacity. The working groups were launched the week of June 21-25, 2021 and will meet monthly. There is an ongoing monthly scientific seminar to showcase cutting-edge science, seek collaborations and share challenges/seek guidance. Two additional network members were added in Fiscal Year 2021. On April 26th-30th, 2021 ARS hosted a virtual scientific symposium, which covered topics such as disease pathogenesis, next generation vaccine and diagnostics, epidemiology, and emergency response research. The symposium highlighted the science and partnerships that ARS will conduct when operational. The first Mitigating Zoonotic Disease Threats Scialog is scheduled for September 30th-October 2nd, 2021. This collaborative effort between USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, ARS and the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement will bring together 50 early career academic and federal scientists, as well as 10 renowned facilitators to discuss and develop research proposals surrounding mitigating zoonotic threats. The Scialog will meet each year for 3 years to solidify the development of collaborative networks between the interdisciplinary scientists. Six ARS fellows were selected through a rigorous selection process in Fiscal Year 2021 to participate in the Scialog. ARS researchers are contributing with the international Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) Zoonotic Laboratory Network, an international collaborative network of high containment laboratories working together to protect human health, animal health and agriculture resources. The Network mission is to establish and sustain BSL4 trusted partnerships to strengthen coordination, improve knowledge sharing and leverage integrated capacity for diagnostics, research, and training to meet global threats. ARS researchers are part of the working groups, which meet quarterly or as needed. These working groups are: Training; Scientific Excellence; International Response and Institutional Collaboration. Record of Any Impact of Maximized Teleworking Requirement: The Scientific Symposium and Scialog were planned to be held in person but as a result of maximized telework requirements were moved to virtual due to travel restrictions. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 01 National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Scientific Symposium. The NBAF Scientific Symposium was hosted by ARS in Manhattan, Kansas, virtually on April 26th-30th, 2021. The symposium was attended by over one thousand people from 39 different countries and 48 U.S. States. The NBAF Scientific Symposium brought together scientists and thought leaders from across the world in federal and academic labs to talk about the types of research needed in biocontainment laboratories for the study of diseases that threaten both America�s animal agricultural industry and public health.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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