Development of an in vitro system that mimics B and T helper cell responses in porcine lymph nodes

Why did we fund this project?

This award aims to develop an in vitro model to identify vaccine candidates for pig diseases enabling those with poor prognosis to be identified prior to in vivo studies.

Vaccines are used in the farming industry to protect pigs from disease, preventing negative welfare and economic impacts. However, some vaccines have limited efficacy and no vaccines exist for some diseases, such as African Swine Fever. There are few in vitro models for vaccine efficacy studies and as a result vaccines are tested in challenge studies comparing immunised and control pigs to confirm protection from disease as a result of vaccination. Such protection can be predicted by the activation of immune cells and production of immune effector molecules, including antibodies. Dr Wilhelm Gerner will develop an in vitro culture system using cells isolated from pig lymph nodes and maintained in a microfluidic transwell system. Initially, cells will be taken from immunised pigs and restimulated, with either a virus or a vaccine candidate. The resulting immune response will be analysed, including antibody production and immune cell activation. Wilhelm will then establish whether a similar immune response can be generated by challenging and restimulating cells isolated from animals that have not previously been exposed to the virus. This would allow cells from animals killed for food to be used instead of laboratory experiments in live pigs.