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Researchers Explore Safe African Swine Fever Vaccine Solutions

A new grant at Kansas State University will explore ways to help protect global food supplies through the development of vaccines to protect swine from infectious diseases. Juergen Richt, regents distinguished professor and university distinguished professor in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the project focused on African swine fever virus, a lethal disease in both wild and domestic pigs.

The grant is funded for a three-year period by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, or AFRI. 

According to Richt, all attempts to develop safe vaccines capable of protecting against the infection and the disease have been largely unsuccessful.

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Season 7, Episode 6: Using Competitive Exclusion to Reduce E. coli in Weaned Pigs

Video: Season 7, Episode 6: Using Competitive Exclusion to Reduce E. coli in Weaned Pigs

Newly weaned pigs are especially vulnerable to pathogenic E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and other health challenges. Research is exploring how introducing beneficial bacteria before exposure to harmful bacteria could help reduce the severity of post-weaning disease, with timing playing an important role.

Dr. Marcelo Almeida, assistant professor in Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Rodrigo Paiva, graduate student and pathology resident at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, discuss their research on competitive exclusion in weaned pigs. They explain how this approach works, why introducing beneficial microorganisms before E. coli exposure may improve outcomes and what they learned about diarrhea, E. coli shedding and pig performance. The conversation also explores the potential to address antimicrobial resistance and the considerations for applying these findings in commercial pork production.