Developing a New Model to Study Respiratory Viruses

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV1) causes about 50 percent of diagnosed viral respiratory tract disease in cats. It is particularly problematic in shelters, where animals are housed closely together and the virus spreads quickly. Researchers will develop a cell culture system to help study feline immune responses to common respiratory viruses, including FHV1. This cell culture system will also be used to test a novel vaccination approach that has the potential to counter the immune suppression cats often have following FHV1 infection. Such a vaccine may protect these animals from future bouts of respiratory illness.