** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BOVINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS (BLV) PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR THE U.S. DAIRY INDUSTRY, INFECTING APPROXIMATELY 84% OF DAIRY HERDS AND CAUSING ECONOMIC LOSSES ESTIMATED AT UP TO$2.7 BILLION ANNUALLYDUE TO REDUCED MILK PRODUCTION. BEYOND THE DIRECT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE, THIS ISSUE RESONATES THROUGH THE ECONOMY AS IT AFFECTS RURAL EMPLOYMENT AND DAIRY PRODUCT PRICES, INFLUENCING COMMUNITY WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. MOST INFECTED CATTLE DO NOT EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS BUT CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS, COMPLICATING EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DISEASE AND POSING A PERSISTENT THREAT TO HERD HEALTH. MOREOVER, ABOUT 5% OF THESE INFECTIONS LEAD TO FATAL DISEASES IN COWS, EXACERBATING THE ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL BURDEN ON FARMERS.OUR RESEARCH IS NOT JUST ANOTHER STUDY ON BLV. WE ARE DELVING INTO HOW THIS INFECTION AFFECTS COW IMMUNE SYSTEMS BY EXAMINING CHANGES IN THE BLOOD CELLS AT A MOLECULAR LEVEL. TO DO THIS, WE ARE EMPLOYING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES LIKE SINGLE-CELL RNA SEQUENCING. THIS ADVANCED METHOD ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL CELLS AND UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSE IMPACTS OF THE VIRUS, PROVIDING A DETAILED PICTURE THAT TYPICAL STUDIES DO NOT. BY FOCUSING ON B-CELLS, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL FOR A HEALTHY IMMUNE RESPONSE, WE AIM TO UNCOVER HOW THE VIRUS ALTERS IMMUNE CELL FUNCTION. THE INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH WILL PINPOINT SPECIFIC WEAKNESSES IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAUSED BY BLV, GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TARGETED TREATMENTS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THESE EFFECTS.THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF DAIRY COWS, THEREBY IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF DAIRY FARMS AND REDUCING THE PRICES OF DAIRY PRODUCTS. BASED ON OUR FINDINGS, SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT AND POTENTIAL REDUCTION OF BLV PREVALENCE COULD LEAD TO HEALTHIER HERDS, DECREASED USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, AND A LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM FARMING OPERATIONS. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO BOLSTER THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY AND SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH BY CONTROLLING A VIRUS THAT COULD IMPACT OTHER ANIMALS AND ECOSYSTEMS. THE PROJECT PROMISES SUBSTANTIAL SOCIETAL BENEFITS BY ACHIEVING THESE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING ENHANCED FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.