PROJECT OBJECTIVES

 

Supporting the EC policy to reduce reliance on large-scale culling of animals for controlling future FMD outbreaks in EU Member States and to increase the possibility for implementing the vaccinate-to-live policy through:

  • Validation and development of (confirmatory) NSP-tests
  • Improved FMD virus detection
  • Better knowledge on the impact of vaccination on FMD virus dissemination and the carrier state
  • Improved vaccine strain selection
  • The development and evaluation of FMD marker vaccines
  • Better knowledge on mucosal immune responses and dendritic cell targeting of the FMD vaccines