This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.The goal of this project is to test two candidate vaccines for protection of rhesus macques against West Nile Virus (WNV). At the TNPRC 36% of the outdoor non-human primate (NHP) colony were found to be antibody positive for WNV. Comparisons to stored samples indicated that the animals had been infected in 2002. These data indicate that a vaccine would be helpful in protecting NHP colonies from infection.Six Indian rhesus macaques are currently assigned to this project with four additional animals to be assigned. Two animals were inoculated IV with WNV on 11/7/06. Blood samples were collected prior to and post inoculation to monitor disease progression using RT-PCR and antibody assays. CSF was collected from both animals, lymph node biopsies were collected from one animal. We are planning to re-challenge both animals and take samples at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours post-inoculation and then twice a week. Once we determine the immune response to infection we will begin a vaccine study using the final eight animals.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 352 publications
