The purpose of this award is development and/or application of predictive genetics for wild cervids

This $126,038 Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) under the Wildlife Services program (CFDA 10.028), supports research to analyze genetic variation in white-tailed deer (WTD) populations across the United States. The key objectives are to: 1) sequence the PRNP gene, which is associated with chronic wasting disease (CWD) susceptibility, in WTD samples collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and 2) assess the frequencies of advantageous PRNP variants among WTD populations to estimate their genetic vulnerability to CWD. The findings will enable state and federal wildlife managers to identify CWD-susceptible populations and develop targeted mitigation strategies to prevent and respond to the spread of this disease in wild cervid herds. The award period is from September 15, 2024 to September 14, 2025 and is being executed by the University of Illinois.

Activities to be performed INC lude for objective 1, we propose to sequence prnp in a sample set of WTD collected across their range by the US fish and wildlife service (USFWS) national wildlife forensics laboratory. For objective 2, the frequencies of advantageous variants of the prion gene prnp will be analyzed among WTD from previously under-sampled populations across the united states. In "predictive genetics," this project will analyze nationwide specimens for advantageous prnp variation, estimating genetic vulnerability across populations. In "cervid population management," we will identify populations with relatively high or low proportions of advantageous alleles, identifying those most vulnerable to CWD. This will guide targeted management strategies, enhancing CWD prevention and response efforts. State and federal wildlife managers will directly benefit from this project and its outcomes including: (1) access to comprehensive data on prnp genetic variation in WTD across the united states; (2) estimates of WTD population vulnerability to CWD using precise impact assessments of protein-altering mutations; and (3) identification of populations with varying genetic vulnerabilities to CWD. This information will enable informed management and strategies to mitigate the spread of CWD. There is no sub award