Date of Award:

5-2002

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Joseph K. -K. Li

Committee

Joseph K. -K. Li

Committee

Nabil Youssef

Committee

Thomas A. Grover

Abstract

Several peptides derived from viral proteins, VP7 and NS2 of bluetongue virus (BTV), were synthesized for an immunologic detection assay: distinguishing between bluetongue virus infected, vaccinated, and noninfected animals (ruminants) with dot blot analysis. The School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, supplied the serum samples from 24 bovine, 18 caprine, 23 ovine. Another 205 bison serum samples were obtained in Utah. The serum samples of BTV-infected animals revealed detectable antibodies to both VP7 and NS2 peptides, whereas vaccinated animals only exhibited antibodies against VP7. Noninfected animals did not display antibody against either viral peptide. These data confirmed the agar gel immunodiffusion assay results determined by the Ross A. Smart Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Utah State University. These tests showed that the synthesized peptides of VP7 and NS2 can be used effectively in an immunological assay that can detect and determine whether animals have been BTV infected or vaccinated.

Checksum

482592f0259a6ab36a05dddde9c77e5b

Included in

Immunity Commons

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