Protection of agriculture initiative_evaluation of gene expression patterns along the asfv outbreak front in european wild boar

This cooperative agreement award from the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provides $163,520.24 in funding to Stichting VU, also known as Vrije Universiteit, located in the Netherlands, to conduct research under the Wildlife Services federal grant program (CFDA #10.028).

Specifically, the awardee will evaluate gene expression patterns along the outbreak front of African Swine Fever Virus in European wild boar populations. They will perform whole transcriptome sequencing on wild boar samples across the virus epizootic front to characterize patterns of gene expression related to novel exposure. This includes sequencing wild boar from native populations unexposed to the virus, within the epizootic front, and within the enzootic region. By analyzing diversity and ancestral sources of upregulated genes in epizootic/enzootic areas among feral swine, the awardee aims to predict disease dynamics if the virus becomes established in wild populations in the U.S. The period of performance for this research is September 19, 2022 through September 18, 2023.

By conducting whole transcriptome sequencing among wild boar sampled across the african swine fever virus epizootic front to characterize patterns of gene expression as related to novel exposure. Specifically, conduct RNA sequencing among wild boar sampled from native populations unexposed to african swine fever virus, within the epizootic front, and within the enzootic region. By characterizing patterns of diversity and ancestral sources for genes that are upregulated in african swine fever virus epizootic/enzootic regions among feral swine, we can begin to predict disease dynamics should the virus become established among wild populations in the U.S.