AIEERP Projects
Current Projects:
Examine the natural history, evolution, and genomic diversity of avian-origin influenza A viruses and the epidemiology of influenza A virus infections in waterfowl using parts of the Mississippi Migratory Bird Flyway.
- Gain insight into how antigenic and genomic diversity of influenza A viruses are maintained in wild bird populations.
- Add to a baseline from which to detect the appearance and emergence of unique or rare genomic segments or constellations that potentially could present an increased threat to animal and human health.
- Expand the wild bird-origin influenza A virus repository.
- Submit isolates to JCVI for full length sequencing and subsequent placement of sequence data into GenBank and the IRD for use by scientists around the world.
- Merge data from previous years to draw conclusions regarding influenza A viruses circulating in wild birds in the Mississippi flyway.
The epidemiology of bidirectional transmission of influenza A viruses at the human-swine interface at agricultural fairs.
- Conduct surveillance for influenza A virus circulating among clinically normal swine at agricultural fairs and exhibitions.
- Conduct diagnostic testing of each sample for the presence of influenza A virus, including virus isolation and RRT-PCR, and maintain a repository of swine-origin isolates.
- Determine the HA and NA subtypes and submit isolates for full length genomic sequencing and subsequent placement into GenBank and IRD for use by scientists around the world.
- Evaluate genomic segments to determine differences in the genomic constellations of the recovered viruses.
