**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS (PRRSV) IS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SWINE PATHOGEN IN THE US.A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FACING IN THE FIELD IS THAT SOME PIGS WITH ASYMPTOMATIC PERSISTENT INFECTION CAN TRANSMIT THE INFECTION TO OTHER CONTACT NAÏVE PIGS. CURRENT PRRSV DIAGNOSTIC METHODS ARE UNABLE TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY PERSISTENTLY INFECTED ANIMALS. THE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PRRSV PERSISTENCE ALSO PRESENTS LIMITATIONS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT MODIFIED LIVE VIRUS VACCINES. THESE CHALLENGES ARE DUE TO NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RNA VIRUSES, BUT ALSO REFLECTS OUR POOR KNOWLEDGE OF VIRUS-HOST INTERACTIONS. IN THIS PROPOSED STUDY, WE WILL DISSECT THE MECHANISM OF PRRSV PERSISTENCE IN MOLECULAR DETAILS. THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE GENERATED FROM THIS STUDY WILL BE APPLIED FOR DEVELOPING DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS TO SPECIFIC DETECT PRRSV PERSISTENTLY INFECTED PIGS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO APPLY THE FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE TO DEVELOP BETTER STRATEGIES FOR DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND PREVENTION.

University Of Illinois

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