Archive Home 2022

December 18, 2022

CEEZAD researchers find that Influenza A virus reassortment in mammals gives rise to genetically distinct subpopulations

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) analyzes the potential for reassortment of the Influenza A virus in mammals.

The article was co-authored by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID. It was published in the November 11 edition of Nature Communications.

Other co-authors include Yonghai Li, Taeyong Kwon and Igor Morozov, all of CEEZAD.

Influenza A virus (IAV) genetic exchange through reassortment has the potential to accelerate viral evolution and has played a critical role in the generation of multiple pandemic strains. For reassortment to occur, distinct viruses must co-infect the same cell. The spatio-temporal dynamics of viral dissemination within an infected host therefore define opportunity for reassortment.

In the Nature Communications article, the authors report on their use of wild type and synonymously barcoded variant viruses of a pandemic H1N1 strain to examine the within-host viral dynamics that govern reassortment in guinea pigs, ferrets and swine. The first two species are well-established models of human influenza, while swine are a natural host and a frequent conduit for cross-species transmission and reassortment.

Their results show reassortment to be pervasive in all three hosts but less frequent in swine than in ferrets and guinea pigs. In ferrets, tissue-specific differences in the opportunity for reassortment are also evident, with more reassortants detected in the nasal tract than the lower respiratory tract.

While temporal trends in viral diversity are limited, spatial patterns are clear, with heterogeneity in the viral genotypes detected at distinct anatomical sites revealing extensive compartmentalization of reassortment and replication.

The research data indicates that the dynamics of viral replication in mammals allow diversification through reassortment but that the spatial compartmentalization of variants likely shapes their evolution and onward transmission.

The full article can be read by following this link: Influenza A virus reassortment in mammals gives rise to genetically distinct within-host subpopulations - PubMed (nih.gov)

December 18, 2022

Article reports activity of antiviral drugs reducing disease and virus transmission in pigs infected with 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) studies the potential for reducing disese and transmission in pigs infected with the 2009 influenza virus.

Other co-authors included Bianca L. Artiaga, also of CEEZAD.

Influenza virus infections are a major cause of respiratory disease in humans. Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are the primary antiviral medication used to treat ongoing influenza infections. However, NAIs are not always effective for controlling virus shedding and lung inflammation.

Other concerns are the emergence of NAI-resistant virus strains and the risk of side effects, which are occasionally severe. Consequently, additional anti-influenza therapies to replace or combine with NAIs are desirable.

In the article, the researchers report on how they compared the efficacy of the NAI oseltamivir with the invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell superagonist, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which induces innate immune responses that inhibit influenza virus replication in mouse models. They show that oseltamivir reduced lung lesions and lowered virus titers in the upper respiratory tract of pigs infected with A/California/04/2009 (CA04) pandemic H1N1virus. It also reduced virus transmission to influenza-naïve contact pigs.

In contrast, α-GalCer had no impact on virus replication, lung disease, or virus transmission, even when used in combination with oseltamivir.

The researchers indicate that this is significant as iNKT-cell therapy has been studied as an antiviral approach for treating humans with influenza.

You can read the entire study by following this link: Front Vet Sci. 2022 Oct 20;9:999507. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.999507. eCollection 2022.

December 18, 2022

CEEZAD researchers study SARS CoV-2

virus replication in sheep

An article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) examines the transmissibility of the SARS CoV-2 virus among sheep.

Other co-authors included Natasha Gaudreault, Konner Cool, Jessie Trujillo, Igor Morozov, David Meekins, Chester McDowell, Dashzeveg Bold, Velmurugan Balaraman, Taeyong Kwon, Daniel Madden, Roman Pogranichniy, Bianca L. Artiaga and Gleyder Roman-Sosa, all of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathology at Kansas State University and CEEZAD, as well as William Wilson, of the National Agro-defense Facility (NBAF).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for a global pandemic that has had significant impacts on human health and economies worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible and the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in humans. A wide range of animal species have also been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 by experimental and/or natural infections.

Sheep are a commonly farmed domestic ruminant that have not been thoroughly investigated for their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the researchers performed in vitro and in vivo studies which consisted of infection of ruminant-derived cells and experimental challenge of sheep to investigate their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.

Their results showed that sheep-derived kidney cells support SARS-CoV-2 replication. Furthermore, the experimental challenge of sheep demonstrated limited infection with viral RNA shed in nasal and oral swabs at 1 and 3-days post challenge (DPC); viral RNA was also detected in the respiratory tract and lymphoid tissues at 4 and 8 DPC, and also at 21 days post inoculation.

Sero-reactivity was observed in some of the principal infected sheep but not the contact sentinels, indicating that transmission to co-mingled naïve sheep was not highly efficient; however, viral RNA was detected in respiratory tract tissues of sentinel animals at 21 DPC.

The researchers also used a challenge inoculum consisting of a mixture of two SARS-CoV-2 isolates, representatives of the ancestral Wuhan-like lineage A and the B.1.1.7-like alpha variant of concern, to study competition of the two virus strains. The results obtained indicate that sheep show low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and that the alpha variant outcompeted the Wuhan-like lineage A strain.

The full study can be read by following this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35105272/#:~:text=Emerg%20Microbes%20Infect,doi%3A%2010.1080/22221751.2022.2037397.

November 17, 2022

CEEZAD receives grant to aid USDA research into foreign animal diseases

The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) has received a $450,000 two-year grant to support U.S. Department of Agriculture research into foreign animal diseases.

The USDA study, titled “Understanding Pathogenesis and Epidemiology for Controlling Foreign Animal Diseases,” will be conducted by that organization and CEEZAD in collaboration with research taking place at Plum Island.

Foreign Animal Diseases (FAD), including Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) and zoonotic / exotic strains of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), pose a severe economic threat to the U.S. livestock industry. Current control capabilities are limited due to less-than-ideal vaccines or gaps in knowledge regarding the virus- host interactions and disease ecology.

In particular, there is insufficient understanding of the immunological mechanisms mediating response to infection or vaccination of these FADs in livestock species. In addition to vaccination, other countermeasure strategies require knowledge of virus ecology and disease epidemiology, particularly for vector borne diseases, such as VSV.

The CEEZAD-USDA research project will study virus-host interactions and apply this knowledge to enhance vaccine effectiveness and develop vaccines to provide better protection against FAD.

November 17, 2022

CEEZAD receives grant from Missouri to support five-year study on controlling swine flu

The Center of Excellence for emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) has received a five-year, $639,372 grant to study protection of pigs from swine flu.

The grant was awarded to CEEZAD by the NIH in collaboration with the University of Missouri.

Its specific purpose is to support research into the ability of genetically modified pigs to model NKT cell immunity to influenza virus infection

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID, will oversee experiments designed to determine whether NKT cells contribute to modified live virus vaccine-mediated immunity and vaccine associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD).

Dr. Richt’s laboratory is ideally positioned to perform these studies as they are based on an experimental design that his group previously developed to sensitively quantify vaccine-mediated heterologous and heterosubtypic immune responses.

November 17, 2022

CEEZAD receives grant to assist study of disease mitigation strategies in Kenya

The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) has received a two-year, $445,349 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ag Research Service to evaluate transboundary disease mitigation strategies in Kenya.

Working in collaboration with USDA, CEEZAD researchers at K-State will assist collaborators in Kenya in the evaluation of new tools developed for early detection and surveillance of arboviruses.

November 17, 2022

CEEZAD grant to support DARPA research

The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) has received a $180,596 grant to support research by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The thrust of the research is to perform swine animal studies to test the immunogenicity of influenza-specific DNA vaccines.

November 4, 2022

Study finds ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 is more stable in human biological fluids than Alpha, Beta and Omicron variants of concern

A recently published study co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) finds that the ancestral lineage of the SARS-CoV2 virus is more stable in human bioological fluids than the variants of cancer (VOCs) that have recently surfaced.

The study was co-authored by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID. The article was published in the August edition of bioRxiv.

SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic virus which was first identified in 2019, and has quickly spread worldwide. The virus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from infected persons; however, the virus-laden excretions can contaminate surfaces which can serve as a potential source of infection.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve and accumulate mutations throughout its genome leading to the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) which exhibit increased fitness, transmissibility, and/or virulence. However, the stability of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in biological fluids has not been thoroughly investigated so far.

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the stability of different SARS-CoV-2 strains in human biological fluids. In the manuscript, the researchers demonstrate that the ancestral strain of Wuhan-like lineage A was more stable than the Alpha VOC B.1.1.7, and the Beta VOC B.1.351 strains in human liquid nasal mucus and sputum. In contrast, there was no difference in stability among the three strains in dried biological fluids.

The research team also shows that the Omicron VOC B.1.1.529 strain was less stable than the ancestral Wuhan-like strain in liquid nasal mucus. In summary, these studies provide insight into the effect of the molecular evolution of SARS-CoV-2 on environmental virus stability, which is important information for the development of countermeasures against SARS-CoV-2.

Other co-authors of the study include Taeyong Kwon, Natasha N. Gaudreault, David A. Meekins, Chester D. McDowell and Konner Cool, all of CEEZAD and the Richt Lab.

The full article can be read by following this link: Ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 is more stable in human biological fluids than Alpha, Beta and Omicron variants of concern - PubMed (nih.gov)

November 4, 2022

Evaluating α-galactosylceramide as an adjuvant for live attenuated influenza vaccines in pigs

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) evaluates an novel adjuvant for live attenuated influenza vaccines in pigs.

Other co-authors included Bianca L. Artiaga, Igor Morozov, Russell Ransburgh, Taeyong Kwon, Velmurugan Balaraman, Sabarish V. Induran, Jamie Henningson and Wenjun Ma, all of CEEZAD and the Richt Lab.

Natural killer T (NKT) cells activated with the glycolipid ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) stimulate a wide variety of immune cells that enhance vaccine-mediated immune responses. Several studies have used this approach to adjuvant inactivated and subunit influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines, including to enhance cross-protective influenza immunity.

However, less is known about whether α-GalCer can enhance live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines, which usually induce superior heterologous and heterosubtypic immunity compared to non-replicating influenza vaccines. The current study used the swine influenza challenge model to assess whether α-GalCer can enhance cross-protective immune responses elicited by a recombinant H3N2 LAIV vaccine (TX98ΔNS1) encoding a truncated NS1 protein.

In one study, weaning pigs were administered the H3N2 TX98ΔNS1 LAIV vaccine with 0, 10, 50, and 100 μg/kg doses of α-GalCer, and subsequently challenged with a heterologous H3N2 virus. All treatment groups were protected from infection. Interestingly, the addition of α-GalCer appeared to decrease nasal shedding of the LAIV vaccine.

In another experiment, pigs vaccinated with the H3N2 LAIV, with or without 50 μg/kg of α-GalCer, were challenged with the heterosubtypic pandemic H1N1 virus. Pigs vaccinated with the LAIV alone generated cross-reactive humoral and cellular responses which blocked virus replication in the airways, and significantly decreased virus shedding. On the other hand, combining the vaccine with α-GalCer reduced cross-protective cellular and antibody responses, and resulted in higher virus titers in respiratory tissues.

These findings suggest that: (i) high doses of α-GalCer impair the replication and nasal shedding of the LAIV vaccine; and (ii) α-GalCer might interfere with heterosubtypic cross-protective immune responses. This research raise concerns that should be considered before trying to use NKT cell agonists as a possible adjuvant approach for LAIV vaccines.

The full article can be read by following this link: Evaluating α-galactosylceramide as an adjuvant for live attenuated influenza vaccines in pigs - PubMed (nih.gov)

November 4, 2022

Current scenario of viral diseases and vaccination strategies of cattle in Turkey

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) explores the current state of viral disease and cattle vaccination strategies in Turkey.

The study was co-authored by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID. It was published in the August 2022 edition of the Journal of infection in Developing Countries.

The dairy and meat industry has rapidly developed in the last decade in Turkey and is playing a key role in supplying animal proteins for human consumption. Viral pathogens continue to threaten the dairy and meat industry leading to serious economic losses worldwide, including Turkey. The Turkish cattle industry has been vulnerable to the spread of viral diseases within the country.

Combating animal diseases is crucial for the economy of Turkey. A good cattle health management policy may reduce the direct losses associated with viral diseases and thereby lead to increase in export of animals and animal products. Countries that are unable to combat animal diseases remain excluded from international trade. Control and eradication of cattle diseases require the availability of effective and practical interventions including vaccination and biosecurity measures.

The article summarizes the currently available information about viral diseases in cattle in Turkey and emphasizes the need for disease monitoring and research, along with implementation of disease control measures to mitigate economic losses to farmers and the country. Authors believe that the information they present can be of great value in the research, prevention, and control of cattle diseases.

The full article can be read by following this link: Current scenario of viral diseases and vaccination strategies of cattle in Turkey - PubMed (nih.gov)

October 5, 2022

Juergen Richt

Dr. Bonnie Rush, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, presents Dr. Juergen A. Richt, director of CEEZAD and CEZID, with a certificate of recognition in honor of his receiving the inaugural BRI Endowed Professorship in October 2022. Dr. Richt was recognized for his "global research impact and distinguished leadership”.

September 16, 2022

Article describes detection of ASFV in ticks in extralimital warthog populations in South Africa

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) and Center on Emerging and Zoonic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) describes the detection of African Swine Fever Virus in ticks in extralimital South African warthog populations..

The article was published in the July 26 edition of the journal Viruses. Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of EEZAD and CEZID, was among co-authors. Other co-authors included Dr. JessieTrujillo, who is also affiliated with CEEZAD and the Richt Lab.

The researchers investigated the possibility that sylvatic circulation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in warthogs and Ornithodoros ticks had extended beyond the historically affected northern part of South Africa that was declared a controlled area in 1935 to prevent the spread of ASFV to the rest of the country. They had previously reported finding antibodies to the virus in extralimital warthogs in the south of the country, and in this article they describe the detection of infected ticks outside the controlled area in northern South Africa.

A total of 5,078 ticks were collected at 45 locations in 7 provinces during 2019-2021 and assayed as 711 pools for virus content by qPCR, while 221 pools were also analyzed for tick phylogenetics. Viral nucleic acid was detected in 50 tick pools representing all four members of the Ornithodoros (O.) moubata complex known to occur in South Africa: O. phacochoerus and O. waterbergensis species yielded ASFV genotypes XX, XXI, XXII at 4 locations and O. moubata yielded ASFV genotype I at two locations inside the controlled area.

Outside the controlled area, O. moubata and O. compactus ticks yielded ASFV genotype I at 7 locations, while genotype III ASFV was identified in O. compactus ticks at a single location. Two of the three species of the O. savignyi complex ticks known to be present in the country, O. kalahariensis and O. noorsveldensis, were collected at single locations and found negative for virus. The only member of the Pavlovskyella (P.) subgenus of Ornithodoros ticks known to occur in South Africa, O. (P.) zumpti, was collected from warthog burrows for the first time, and it tested negative for ASFV.

The article concluded that while it is now confirmed that there is sylvatic circulation of ASFV outside the controlled area in South Africa, there is a need for more extensive surveillance and for vector competence studies with various species of Ornithodoros ticks.

You can read the full article by following this link:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35893686/

September 16, 2022

New article reports on findings concerning a SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive cat

A recently published article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) and Center on Emerging and Zoonic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) reports on findings of a recent study concerning a SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive cat.

The article was published in the July edition of the Journal of Veterinary Sciences. Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID, was among co-authors.

The paper on which the article was based reports a presumptive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a cat. A cat, living in a household with three individuals with coronavirus disease 2019, died with severe respiratory disease. The animal showed bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung on X-ray and computed tomography. Clinical swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but the serum was positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Interstitial pneumonia and prominent type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia were noted on histopathology. Respiratory tissues were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen, but the cat was positive for feline parvovirus DNA.

In conclusion, the respiratory disease and associated pathology in this cat could have been due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

You can read the full article by following this link:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35920120/

July 17, 2022

New study finds that certain SARS-CoV-2 Spike mutations are important for infection of mice but not for escape from human immune sera

A recently published article co-authored by the director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoontic Infectious Diseases (https://www.k-state.edu/cezid) reports on new findings dealing with infection of mice with SARS CoV-2.

The article was published in the July edition of the journal Nature Communications. Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID, was among the authors.

David A. Meekins, Chester D. McDowell and Velmurugan Belaraman, all members of the CEEZAD research team, were also among co-authors.

Due to differences in the human and murine angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor, initially circulating, ancestral Wuhan-like SARS-CoV-2 isolates could not infect mice. But in the article, the authors demonstrate that serial passaging of the Wuhan-like USA-WA1/2020 SARS-Cov-2 strain in mice results in a "mouse-adapted" SARS-CoV-2 strain (MA-SARS-CoV-2) with mutations in S, M, and N genes, and a twelve-nucleotide insertion in the S gene.

They also found that MA-SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice causes mild disease, with more pronounced morbidity depending on genetic background and in aged and obese animals. Two mutations in the S gene associated with the mouse adaptation (N501Y, H655Y) are also present in various SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs).

The N501Y substitution in the receptor binding domain present also in Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron VoCs, is associated with high transmissibility in humans and allows these VoCs to infect wild type mice. The authors also found that the S protein mutations found in the mouse-adapted MA-SARS-CoV-2 strain do not affect neutralization efficiency by human convalescent and post vaccination sera.

The full article can be read by following this link. Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Spike mutations important for infection of mice and escape from human immune sera - PubMed (nih.gov)

July 15, 2022

Article reports on the development of indirect ELISAs for the detection of SARS CoV-2 antibodies in cats

A recently published article reports on findings by members of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) leading to development of an indirect ELISA for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cats.

The article was published in the June edition of the journal Frontiers of Veterinary Science. Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD, was the senior author.

Co-authors were Dashzeveg Bold, Gleyder Roman-Sosa and Natasha Gaudreault, all associated with CEEZAD, as well as Roman Pogranichniy of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University and Batsukh Zayat, of the Mongolian University of Life Sciences in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The article noted that companion animals such as cats are susceptible to a variety of coronaviruses, and recent studies show that felines are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RT-PCR diagnostic is currently the method of choice to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific viral nucleic acids in animal samples during an active infection; however, serological assays are critical to determine whether animals were exposed to the virus and to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a defined population.

In this study, CEEZAD researchers utilized recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 expressed in E. coli (N) and mammalian cells (N, RBD) to develop indirect Enzyme-linked Immunoassays s (iELISAs) using well-characterized SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative cat serum panels from previous experimental cat challenge studies.

The optimal conditions for the iELISA tests were established based on checkerboard dilutions of antigens and antibodies. The diagnostic sensitivity for the detection of feline antibodies specific for the SARS-CoV-2 N or RBD proteins of the iELISA tests was between 93.3 and 97.8%, respectively, and the diagnostic specificity 95.5%.

The iELISAs developed here can be used for high-throughput screening of cat sera for both SARS-CoV-2-specific antigens. The testing of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies with the iELISAs can be performed in a BSL-2 biocontainment environment, unlike classical virus neutralization tests with live virus which have to be performed in BSL-3 laboratories.

BSL-3 Training/Transboundary Animal Diseases Summer Program

June 5-16, 2022

BSL-3 Agenda

June 2, 2022

Ten students selected for CEEZAD’s 2022 BSL-3 Summer Training Program

An upcoming CEEZAD summer workshop will give 10 future veterinary researchers a chance to explore the full range of professional opportunities that will be available to them when they complete their studies. It will also acquaint those candidates with recent developments in the field of infectious disease studies in BSL-3 biocontainment.

The USDA BSL-3 Training Program for Research Support Personnel is an annual exercise in which CEEZAD gathers experts in the fields of biosecurity, virology, pathobiology and related fields in order to educate promising candidates who are interested in veterinary research in those fields. It will be held from June 5-17. Most of the sessions will take place at the Biosecurity Research Institute, a level 3 biocontainment facility at Kansas State University.

The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service.

The participants, most of them PhD candidates, are involved in the study of various infectious diseases. Here are brief biographies along with descriptions of their future aspirations:

Wellesley Dittmar. A veterinary medicine and PhD student at Louisiana State University, Wellesley received her bachelors in biological engineering from Mississippi State in 2020. Wellesley has conducted research at the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Mississippi State, including the design of a device to measure blood flow within a laminitic equine hoof.

Her career goal is to become either a faculty member at a veterinary school or to pursue research at the Centers For Disease Control in order to identify and investigate new viruses in hot spots around the world.

Astrid Carcamo-Tzic. Astrid is a veterinary medicine technician at Kansas State University with an expected graduation date of 2026. Holder of bachelors and masters degrees from Kansas State, she is also a study assistant in clinical operations at Dechra Veterinary Products in Overland Park, Ks.

Astrid hopes to use the experience acquired through the CEEZAD BSL3 Summer Program to enhance her understanding of high-risk pathogens, among them African Swine Fever and Rift Valley Fever virus, and biosafety.

Emily Hedden. Holder of bachelors and masters degrees, the latter in veterinary biomedical science, from Kansas State University, Emily is working on a USDA-ARS arbovirology fellowship at the Oak Ridge Institute For Science and Education.

She wants to use the CEEZAD summer program to enhance her understanding of the process and importance of collaborations within industry, academia and the government that are required to help reduce the consequences of zoonotic animal diseases on public health.

Shelby Cagle. A PhD student in microbiology, immunology and pathology at Colorado State, Shelby holds a bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee in science communication and microbiology. She is a graduate research assistant at the Colorado State Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases.

Shelby believes the CEEZAD summer program will provide the hands-on training needed for the safe conduct of BSL-3 level experiments, which will be the hallmark of her PhD work and future career aspirations.

Albert To. Holder of a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Albert is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Tropical Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

Albert hopes to develop diagnostic antigen tests and preventative countermeasures for emerging pathogens, especially from regions that lack the technological capacity and/or workforce to do so. He hopes to use his knowledge gained during the CEEZAD summer program to advance that goal.

Zachary Baker. Zach is a graduate student working toward a PhD in molecular and cellular biology at Virginia Tech, where he received his bachelors in 2020. He is also working at the Hsu Lab at Virginia Tech.

Zach believes the CEEZAD summer program will enhance his ability to deal with potentially deadly pathogens that can infect the gastrointestinal tract, particularly those he may research as a professional in the field.

Emily Bencosme-Cuevas. A PhD student in veterinary pathobiology at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Emily has a bachelors degree from Northwestern State University in Louisiana.

Emily believes that the CEEZAD summer program will complement her graduate training to advance a long-term goal of becoming a primary investigator in the field of vaccine research against zoonotic diseases, including some that are studied under high-containment conditions. Emily also looks forward to the opportunity to interact with various industry experts.

Marina Wylie. Marina is a PhD candidate in the Emerging Infectious Diseases graduate program of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Marina holds a bachelors degree from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami, and has worked as a lab assistant at the University of Miami. Her goal is to use the CEEZAD summer program as a means of determining whether her future interests will focus on BSL3/4 animal research.

Viktoria Van Nederveen. Viktoria is a PhD candidate in the Emerging Infectious Diseases program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Viktoria holds a bachelors degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Lebanon Valley College.

Emily Medina Magues. Emily is a master of science student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she is studying comparative biomedical sciences. Emily holds a degree in molecular biology from Wisconsin, and is interested in studying human and animal immunology and virology.

Emily hopes to use the CEEZAD summer program to advance her goal of working in high-containment environments. Emily also expects to learn much from hearing from industry and government leaders as well as research experts working in the field of high-containment and trans-boundary diseases.

May 26, 2022

KSU honors CEEZAD director, two staffers, for patent work

The director of the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD, www.ceezad.org) was among Kansas State University faculty members honored May 9 for patents on discoveries made during 2021.

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at K-State, was one of three CEEZAD researchers honored during the university’s Inventors and breeders Ceremony. The event recognized faculty members who were issued patents and plant variety protection certificates in 2021.

Also honored from CEEZAD were Dr. Igor Morozov, science project manager, and Sun Young Sunwoo, who at the time was a researcher affiliated with CEEZAD and the Richt Lab.

All three were honored for their work leading to a patent regarding the development of a vaccine to prevent Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. That is a disease of white-tailed deer and cattle transmitted by midges.

May 13, 2022

CEEZAD receives NIHr01 grant to study infectious diseases

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has awarded a more than $3.7 million grant to the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD, www.ceezad.org) for research related to the study of influenza in humans.

NIH r01 grants provide support for health-related research and development. The award is made in conjunction with researchers at the University of Missouri. The two teams of researchers will be working cooperatively.

The research will focus on the ability of genetically modified pigs to model NKT cell immunity to infection with influenza viruses.

Pulmonary T cell-mediated immunity is critical for host protection from influenza virus infections. While current understanding of influenza immunity is focused on conventional MHC-restricted T cells that recognize peptide antigens, unconventional innate-like T cell subsets such as CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells, are emerging as integral effector components of the respiratory immune system, where they can play both a protective and immuno-pathological role in respiratory infections.

Although NKT cells are thought to make important contributions to influenza immunity, relatively little is known about their impact on human influenza infections due to a lack of suitable animal models.

The current proposal seeks to address this critical knowledge gap using swine, which offer an excellent model to determine the role of NKT cells for human influenza infections, including anti-influenza host defenses and influenza vaccine responses.

The award was made through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

April 29, 2022

New paper examines transmission patterns of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants

The Director of the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (www.k-state.erdu/cezid) is co- author of a recently published paper examining transmission patterns of various mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The paper, by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, who in addition to his duties at CEEZAD and CEZID is also the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, and other CEEZAD-affiliated researchers, was published in the March edition of Cell Host and Microbe, an offshoot of Cell Press.

SARS-CoV-2 has diverged into different variants termed "variants of concern" (VOCs). In the paper, researchers examined emerging SARS-CoV-2 spike polymorphisms in vitro and in vivo to understand their impact on transmissibility, virus pathogenicity and fitness. They found that the substitution Spike655Y, represented in the gamma and omicron VOCs, enhances viral replication and spike protein cleavage.

The Spike655Y substitution was transmitted more efficiently than its ancestor Spike655H in the hamster infection model and was able to outcompete Spike655H in the hamster model and in a human primary airway system.

They also analyzed a set of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) to investigate how different sets of mutations may impact spike processing. All VOCs tested exhibited increased spike cleavage and fusogenic capacity.

Taken together, the study demonstrates that the spike mutations present in VOCs that become epidemiologically prevalent in humans are linked to an increase in spike processing capabilities and virus transmission.

Co-authors, in addition to Dr. Richt, from CEEZAD and Richt Lab, included: David Meekins, Velmurugan Balaraman, and Chester McDowell.

The full study can be read by following this link: Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern link to increased spike cleavage and virus transmission - PubMed (nih.gov)

5. K-State animal disease expert anticipates rise of avian flu cases through spring

By AJ Dome

The Manhattan Mercury

March 23, 2022

A Kansas State University animal disease expert says cases of avian influenza will rise through the spring months as the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirms more affected flocks.

Juergen Richt, distinguished professor and director of K-State’s Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), said 20 states and 7 million birds have already been affected by this year’s strain of H5N1 avian flu. He said this virus is genetically different from the avian flu strain detected in 2015 that led to the death of about 50 million chickens and turkeys in the United States, and an economic loss of about $4 billion.

“This time, this incursion is again in wild birds coming in from the East Coast,” Richt said, “coming in somehow from Europe to the eastern parts of Canada, then going down the coast across the Atlantic flyway, before swapping over to the Mississippi flyway, which we’re in.”

Full text: https://tinyurl.com/dtccncue

March 12, 2022

CEEZAD Director receives KSU Biosecurity

Research Institute endowed professorship

The Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) has been named recipient of Kansas State University's first Biosecurity Research Institute endowed professorship.

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, who in addition to his duties at CEEZAD is also the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, is one of two recipients of the award, which was announced on March 11.

The professorships were established through a gift by Marty Vanier and her late husband Bob Krause for faculty members who are or will be performing a significant portion of their scholarly work at the Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI. Nominees must also have demonstrated global research impact in their fields.

Barbara Valent, a KSU professor of plant pathology, was also named recipient of the award.

"The BRI endowed professorships allow us to both leverage and extend our unique assets and scientific leadership in biosecurity and biodefense research," said David Rosowsky, K-State vice president for research. "Drs. Valent and Richt are spectacular examples of our human assets, both eminent scholars and both internationally renowned in their respective fields. We are proud to recognize them with these inaugural BRI endowed professorships and are grateful to Marty and Bob for their vision and generosity."

Richt investigates zoonotic, emerging and transboundary diseases of livestock, focusing mainly on viral diseases. His work has led to strategies to identify, control and/or eradicate pathogens with significant impact on veterinary medicine, human health and food security. His recent work focuses on the establishment of preclinical animal models for SARS-CoV-2 to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19.

"We are delighted for Dr. Jürgen Richt to be selected as one of the two inaugural BRI professors," said Bonnie Rush, Hodes family dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "He is a leader in containment research, directing two major emerging infectious disease centers at K-State. In 2020, Dr. Richt redirected his work to strengthen our understanding of the pathophysiology and disease transmission of COVID-19. The BRI professorship will further enable Dr. Richt to perform the advanced, high-containment research that is essential for protecting and enhancing human and animal health on a global scale."

"Being selected among the first recipients of this award is deeply meaningful because of the reputation of the BRI and its staff within the scientific community," Richt said. "Existence of the BRI first and foremost demonstrates Kansas State University's tangible commitment to the food animal health science in particular, to the sciences in general and most broadly to the concept of critical-needs research."

The Biosecurity Research Institute at Pat Roberts Hall on the K-State Manhattan campus is a unique biocontainment research and education facility that has helped K-State become a national leader in biodefense research. The BRI is the home of comprehensive infectious disease research to address threats to plant, animal and human health, including food-borne pathogens.

June 5 – June 17, 2022

Now Accepting Applications!

The USDA BSL-3 Training Program for Research Support Personnel is designed to provide introductory BSL-3/BSL-3 Ag training to research personnel, either current federal staff; research fellows; recent graduates from U.S. universities (BS, MS) and current enrolled college students (BS, MS and PhD) with career interests in USDA Agricultural Research Service who want to attain additional training and knowledge in the area of high-containment research and as potential career choice.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and is directed at highly motivated BS/MS level research support personnel interested in research and careers in the field of high consequence, transboundary and zoonotic diseases of animals. The two-week program consists of one week of intensive, hands-on and classroom training at the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI; https://www.bri.k-state.edu/) at Kansas State University and the second week with in-person and/or virtual presentations (hybrid system) from area industry partners and seminars/lectures from national and international subject matter experts in high containment research and transboundary animal diseases.

The BRI, located adjacent to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, contains an Education and Training area which includes a training laboratory with equipment that simulates BSL-3 research practices. Both, CEEZAD and the BRI are committed to training a specialized workforce to protect the nation's agriculture and public health sectors against high consequence transboundary, emerging and zoonotic diseases.

For more information and to apply: https://ceezad.org/education/workforce_development/summer-program-veterinary.html

Eligibility Requirements

U.S. citizenship or Green card holders (eligible for ORISE fellowships)
Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale (for the respective BS and/or MS degrees)

Program Goals

Demonstrating an understanding of pathogen risk group classifications and biosafety levels
Identifying potential risks associated with executing standard laboratory practices
Engage in laboratory practices that reduce the potential for aerosol exposures
Identifying areas of potential vulnerabilities in the laboratory ecosystem/network to include how technology introduction may impact laboratory operations (cybersecurity), safety, security, and overall laboratory capability
Demonstrating essential biocontainment practices for use in BSL3, ABSL3 and BSL3 Ag settings.

Successful applicants will receive a travel stipend (up to $2,000) to cover transportation (to and from Manhattan, Kansas), lodging and per diem expenses. Applicants residing in or near the Manhattan, Kansas, area may not be eligible to receive a travel stipend. An on-campus housing option is available.

A certificate of completion for the program will be provided to signify the student/participant has attended the program and is familiar with basic knowledge of working in BSL-3 environments. (Note: This is not a certification program)

Please note that although the program is in-person following CDC/KSU COVID-19 rules and recommendations, due to the impact of COVID-19, the presentations by subject matter experts will be a combination of in-person and virtually. Social distancing guidelines to maintain a distance of 6 feet apart will be followed by all individuals involved in the program. Masks will be mandatory based on KSU and CDC guidelines.

All applications must be submitted to ceezad@ksu.edu by: Tuesday, March 8, 2022

For More Information, Please Contact:

Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 66506

Phone: 785-532-2793

E-mail: ceezad@ksu.edu; kcortes@vet.k-state.edu

APPLY HERE: https://www.vet.k-state.edu/asp/ceezad_form/ceezad.aspx

Program Overview

Week 1: Classroom and hands-on BSL-3 training at the BRI

One week of training will address topics, techniques and essential practices to safely and successfully conduct research in a Biosafety Level-3 setting. By the end of the training the student will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of risk group classifications and biosafety levels;
Identify potential risks associated with executing standard laboratory practices;
Engage in laboratory practices that reduce the potential for aerosol exposures;
Identify, select, and defend high containment practices required when manipulating agents and toxins;
Identify areas of potential vulnerabilities in the laboratory ecosystem/network to include how technology introduction may impact laboratory operations (cybersecurity), safety, security, and overall laboratory capability;
Demonstrate essential biocontainment practices for use in BSL-3, ABSL-3 and BSL-3Ag settings.

Week 2: Industry overview and Speaker series

The final week will also include presentations by industry experts and lectures by academic and government experts in the fields of high biocontainment research and transboundary animal diseases. Topics covered may include:

Careers in high-containment research
Necropsy in high-containment research
Rift Valley Fever virus
African Swine Fever virus
SARS-CoV-2 mitigation strategies Arboviral diseases of livestock
Research in a BSL-4 environment (Ebola, CCHV or similar)
Research at Plum Island Animal Disease Center
Future projects at NBAF

All participants will be required to submit a final written report at the end of the program

Paper examines susceptibility of sheep to co-infection with parental SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant

The Director of the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) is the senior author of a recently published paper researching the infection and transmission capabilities of the ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its alpha variant in sheep.

The paper, by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, who in addition to his duties at CEEZAD is also the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, and other CEEZAD-affiliated researchers, was published in Emerging Microbes Infections.

A wide range of animal species have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 by experimental and/or natural infections. Sheep are a commonly farmed domestic ruminant that have not been thoroughly investigated for their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. That is why CEEZAD researchers performed in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.

Results established that sheep-derived cells support SARS-CoV-2 replication, and that after experimental infection, limited amounts of viral RNA was shed in nasal and oral swabs of principal infected animals. , Infectious virus was present early after infection in the respiratory tract of principal infected animals, and viral RNA was detected in the respiratory tract and lymphoid tissues in both, principal infected and sentinel animals.

Seropositivity was observed in some of the principal infected sheep but not in the contact sentinels, indicating that transmission to co-mingled naïve sheep was not highly efficient.

The results indicate that sheep show low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and that the alpha variant of concern outcompeted the ancestral strain.

Co-authors with Dr. Richt included the following CEEZAD/Kansas State University researchers: Konner Cool, Natasha Gaudreault, Jessie Trujillo, Igor Morozov, David Meekins, Chester McDowell, Dashzeveg Bold, Velmurugan Balaraman, Taeyong Kwon, Daniel Madden, Bianca Libanori Artiage, Roman Pogranichniy, and Gleyder Roman-Sosa.

Other co-authors included Marian Carossino and Udeni Balasuriya of Louisiana State University, William Wilson and Dana Mitzel of the National Big and Agro-defense Laboratory, and Adolfo Garcia Sastre of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

The full study can be read by following this link; Susceptibility of sheep to experimental co-infection with the ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant (tandfonline.com)

CEEZAD director interviewed regarding avian influenza threat

CEEZAD director Dr. Juergen A. Richt was interviewed recently by the Manhattan Mercury regarding the spread of avian influenza, including in Kansas. You can read the article by following the link below.

K-State animal disease expert anticipates rise of avian flu cases through spring | News | themercury.com

Finding of link between CoV-2 virus in deer and humans

is getting international attention

Research on the zoonotic transmission of the CoV-2 virus by a scientific team from Canada is getting international attention.

The March edition of National Geographic contains an article reporting on research raising the likelihood of the direct spread of the virus from Canadian white-tailed deer to a human. Dr. Juergen A. Richt, director of Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD; www.ceezad.org) and the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, was asked to comment on the article.

The article (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.22.481551v1.full) published in the non-peer reviewed journal BioRxiv reports the first known instance of a COVID-19 spillover from a white-tailed deer—a common species throughout North America—into another species, in this case a human.

The National Geographic article, written by Dina Fine Marden, noted that a team of 32 government and academic researchers concluded in the article that in late 2021, more than a dozen white-tailed deer in Ontario, Canada had been infected with a SARS-CoV-2 virus that had a constellation of “mutations that had not been previously observed among SARS-CoV-2 lineages.” Further analysis revealed that a person who had close contact with the white-tailed deer in Ontario was infected with the same variant of coronavirus.

In the scientific manuscript on which the National Geographic article was based, the researchers hold out the possibility that the virus was transmitted first through another host species, such as a mink. They add, however, that the genomic analysis suggests direct transmission from deer to human is “the most likely scenario.”

Here is a link to the full article in National Geographic.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/first-potential-case-of-deer-to-human-covid-transmission-found

Pathogenicity of Avian Influenza explored in new paper co-authored by CEEZAD Director

The Director of the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) is co-author of a newly published paper researching the emergence, evolution and pathogenicity of the Influenza A(H7N4) virus in shorebirds in China..

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, who in addition to his duties at CEEZAD is also the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, was among the co-authors of the paper, which was published in the February edition of the Journal of Virology

The paper is the result of a 2-year surveillance study of influenza A viruses in migratory birds designed to understand the subsequent risk during the migratory seasons in Dandong Yalu River Estuary Coastal Wetland National Nature Reserve, Liaoning Province, China. That area is a major stopover site on the East Asian-Australasian flyway.

Researchers isolated 27 influenza A viruses with multiple subtypes, including H3N8 (n = 2), H4N6 (n = 2), H4N7 (n = 2), H7N4 (n = 9), H7N7 (n = 1), H10N7 (n = 7), and H13N6 (n = 4). Particularly, a novel reassortant influenza A(H7N4) virus was first identified in a woman and her backyard poultry flock in Jiangsu Province, China; this virus could pose a serious threat to public health.

In the article, the researchers describe the genetic characterization and pathogenicity of the nine influenza A(H7N4) isolates in more detail. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that complex viral gene flow occurred among influenza viruses from Asian countries. They also demonstrated a similar evolutionary trajectory of the surface genes of the A(H7N4) isolates and Jiangsu human-related A(H7N4) viruses.

The A(H7N4) isolates exhibited differing degrees of virulence in mice, suggesting a potential risk to other mammalian species, including humans. They also revealed multiple mutations that might affect viral virulence in mice.

The report highlights the importance and need for the long-term surveillance of avian influenza viruses in migratory birds combined with domestic poultry surveillance along migratory routes and flyways and, thereby, the development of measures to manage potential animal and public health threats.

Particularly, the researchers found that the H7 subtype avian influenza viruses, which are capable of infecting humans, and the H7 subtype low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are capable of mutating into highly pathogenic avian influenza; therefore, they pose a serious threat to public health.

The full study can be read by following this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34787451/

CEEZAD researchers publish article exploring gains in Rift Valley Fever virus research

Scientists at the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) are among co-authors of a new paper highlighting recent research into the Rift Valley Fever virus...

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that was first reported in the Rift Valley of Kenya. It causes significant disease in humans and livestock.

RVFV is a tri-segmented, negative-sense RNA virus consisting of a L, M, and S segments with the M segment encoding the glycoproteins Gn and Gc. Host factors that interact with Gn are largely unknown.

To this end, two viruses containing an epitope tag (V5) on the Gn protein in position 105 or 229 (V5Gn105 and V5Gn229) were generated using the RVFV MP-12 vaccine strain as a backbone. The V5-tag insertion minimally impacted Gn functionality as measured by replication kinetics, Gn localization, and antibody neutralization assays.

A proteomics-based approach was used to identify novel Gn-binding host proteins, including the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, UBR4. Depletion of UBR4 resulted in a significant decrease in RVFV titers and a reduction in viral RNA production.

The full study can be read by following this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35032865/

K-State research helping protect zoo animals from SARS-CoV-2 spread

Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

Juergen Richt

Jürgen A. Richt, director of K-State’s Center for Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases and the Regents distinguished professor in the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, recently tested an animal vaccine for safety and efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. | Download this photo.

MANHATTAN —

Testing done by Kansas State University's Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases is helping protect more than 100 mammalian species of animals in zoos around the world from SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Zoo animals are receiving the experimental vaccine developed by leading animal health company Zoetis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized use of the experimental vaccine on a case-by-case basis to help protect mammals living in zoos. Zoetis has donated the vaccine to the zoos, which have been using it since summer 2021.

A team at K-State's Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases, or CEEZAD, led by Jürgen A. Richt, tested the vaccine for safety and efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Richt is director of CEEZAD and the Regents distinguished professor in the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"This developmental work on a COVID-19 vaccine for animals is an important step to protect susceptible animal species against SARS CoV-2 because research has shown that SARS-CoV-2 can be a threat to segments of the pet, wildlife and zoo animal populations," Richt said. "We know that domestic and large cats and many zoo animals are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, probably acquiring the virus from their handlers."

Zoetis initially began its work on a COVID vaccine for animals in February 2020 when the first dog was confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong. Global animal health authorities have thus far determined there is no need for a COVID vaccine for household pets.

Richt said doing these studies was both a great opportunity and a serious responsibility.

"These types of vaccines can be of significant assistance in combatting the disease and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 among susceptible animal populations, including endangered animal species," Richt said. "Members of my laboratory were delighted to be given the opportunity to play such an important role in the evaluation of this vaccine and contribute to saving endangered animals worldwide."

Vaccine testing at K-State took place at the university's Biosecurity Research Institute, a biocontainment research and education facility.

January 21

New paper explores advances and gaps in SARS-CoV-2 research

The Director of the Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) is co-author of a newly published paper identifying recent advances and remaining gaps in SARS-CoV-2 infection models.

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, who in addition to his duties at CEEZAD is also the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, was among more than a dozen worldwide co-authors of the paper, which was published in PLOS Pathogens

The article notes that the global response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is

now facing new challenges such as vaccine inequity and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Preclinical models of disease, in particular animal models, are essential to investigate VOC pathogenesis, vaccine correlates of protection and post-exposure therapies.

In the article, Dr. Richt and his fellow researchers provide an update from the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 modeling expert group (WHO-COM) assembled by WHO, regarding advances in preclinical models. They discuss how animal model research is playing a key role to evaluate VOC virulence, transmission and immune escape, and how animal models are being refined to recapitulate COVID-19 demographic variables such as co-morbidities and age.

The full study can be read by following this link: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1010161

CEEZAD team researches effect of feed mill batch sequencing on ASFV prevalence and distribution

A team of researchers from the Center of Excellence For Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) recently published a paper assessing the effect of mixing and feed batch sequencing on the prevalence of the African Swine Fever virus in swine feed. .

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, director of CEEZAD and the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, was senior author of the paper, which was published in January in Transboundary Emerging Diseases.

Other authors from CEEZAD included Dr. Igor Morozov, Jessie Trujillo, Taeyong Kwon, Konner R. Cool, Natasha Gaudreault and Jordan Gebhardt. Researchers from the Department of Grain Science and Industry and Animal Sciences and Industry also participated.

The article notes the importance of having methods that can detect and mitigate the risk of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in potentially contaminated feed or ingredients bound for the United States. The article was designed to evaluate feed batch sequencing as a mitigation technique for ASFV contamination in a feed mill, and to determine whether a feed sampling method could identify ASFV following experimental inoculation.

Batches of feed were manufactured in a BSL-3Ag room at Kansas State University's Biosafety Research Institute in Manhattan, Kansas. First, the pilot feed manufacturing system mixed, conveyed, and discharged an ASFV-free diet. Next, a diet was manufactured using the same equipment, but contained feed inoculated with ASFV. Then, four subsequent ASFV-free batches of feed were manufactured.

After discharging each batch into a collection container, 10 samples were collected in a double 'X' pattern. Samples were analyzed using a qPCR assay for the ASFV p72 gene then the cycle threshold (Ct) and Log₁₀ genomic copy number (CN)/g of feed were determined. Both the qPCR Ct values (p < .0001) and the Log₁₀ genomic copy number (CN)/g (p < .0001) content of feed samples were impacted based on the batch of feed. Feed samples obtained directly after manufacturing the ASFV-contaminated diet contained the greatest amounts of ASFV DNA across all criteria (p < 0.05).

The research found that the quantity of ASFV DNA decreased sequentially as additional batches of feed were manufactured, but was still detectable after batch sequence 4.

In summary, sequencing batches of feed decreases concentration of ASFV contamination in feed, but does not eliminate it. Bulk ingredients can be accurately evaluated for ASFV contamination by collecting 10 subsamples using the sampling method described herein. Future research is needed to evaluate whether different mitigation techniques can reduce ASFV feed contamination.

The full study can be read by following this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34076951/