The Texas A&M Agrilife Research received a three-year, $650,000 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program (CFDA #10.310). The grant will fund research to develop preventative strategies against Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) pneumonia in foals. Key products and services include determining whether administering virulent or avirulent R. equi bacteria or an immunostimulant (CPG) to foals can induce protection against subsequent R. equi infection through trained immunity. The research aims to demonstrate protection in foals and examine the effects on gene expression in monocytes and myeloid progenitor cells in bone marrow. Findings are expected to advance the fields of trained immunity and prevention of infectious diseases in foals, as well as inform vaccine component design by generating knowledge on innate immune adjuvants. The award was issued on January 15, 2023 for completion by January 14, 2026.
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