February

• 10 minutes
• Top publications | February
• Carles Vilalta, Juan M. Sanhueza, Mark Schwartzd, Mariana Kikutia, Montserrat Torremorell, Cesar A. Corzo

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is currently the most detrimental disease in the U.S swine industry. Clinical signs of PRRS virus (PRRSv) infection in breeding herds include reproductive failure with abortions, stillbirths, premature farrowings and increased pre-weaning mortality.

• 10 minutes
• Top publications | February
• Andrew J. Pollard and Else M. Bijker

Immunization is a cornerstone of public health policy and is demonstrably highly cost-effective when used to protect child health. Although it could be argued that immunology has not thus far contributed much to vaccine development, in that most of the vaccines we use today were developed and tested empirically, it is clear that there are major challenges ahead to develop new vaccines for difficultto- target pathogens, for which we urgently need a better understanding of protective immunity.

• 10 minutes
• Top publications | February
• Brent Pepin, Todd Williams, Dale Polson, Phillip Gauger, Scott Dee

An introduction of a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) like African Swine Fever Virus (ASF) would be financially devastating. For example, ASF, a highly contagious pathogen with high mortality rates, is a World Health Organization reportable disease that has recently been spreading across Asia and Europe. Control of ASF would likely require mass euthanasia of infected and exposed animals similar to the United Kingdom’s elimination of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).