** 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 RESPIRATORY AND REPRODUCTIVE SYNDROME VIRUS (PRRSV) IS A DEBILITATING DISEASE THAT POSES BOTH PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL CONCERNS. LOW EFFICACY OF CURRENT VACCINES HAS SHIFTED THE FOCUS FROM TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TO ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES, SUCH AS NUTRITION, TO LESSEN THE IMPACTS OF THIS DISEASE. TRADITIONALLY, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE ILLNESS STEMMED FROM REDUCED FEED INTAKE AMONG AFFECTED ANIMALS. HOWEVER, WHEN HEALTHY PIGS ARE FED THE SAME AMOUNT OF FEED AS THEIR PRRS-INFECTED COUNTERPARTS, THEY EXHIBIT SUPERIOR GROWTH RATES. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IS CONSUMING VITAL NUTRIENTS PRESENT IN THE DIET.TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, INTRAVENOUS CATHETERS WILL BE PLACED, AND PIGS WILL BE GIVEN THE PRRSV VIRUS. DURING THE CHALLENGE, PIGS WILL BE GIVEN AMINO ACIDS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY VERY IMPORTANT FOR AN IMMUNE RESPONSE AND GROWTH OF THE ANIMAL. THE ABILITY TO DRAW BLOOD EASILY WITH LITTLE TO NO STRESS ON THE ANIMAL ALLOWS SAMPLES TO BE COLLECTED FREQUENTLY AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE DISEASE; ALLOWING US TO CHARACTERIZE THE IMPACT OF THE DISEASE ON DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE PLASMA. IN ADDITION, WE CAN IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT VARY BASED ON DIETARY TREATMENTS WHICH WILL HELP US IDENTIFY PATHWAYS WE CAN EXPLOIT TO HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF DISEASE. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MODULATE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE BY CHARACTERIZING METABOLIC FLUX AND MACRONUTRIENT CONSUMPTION OF THE CHALLENGE.