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The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is an essential multifunctional cellular protein that is only beginning to be understood. CAR serves as a receptor for many adenoviruses, human group B coxsackieviruses, swine vesicular disease virus, and possibly other viruses. While named for its function as a viral receptor, CAR is also involved in cell adhesion, immune cell activation, synaptic transmission, and signaling. Knockout mouse models were first to identify some of these biological functions; however, tissue‐specific model systems have shed light on the complexity of different CAR isoforms and their specific activities. Many of these functions are mediated by the large number of interacting proteins described so far, and several new putative interactions have recently been discovered. As antiviral and gene therapy strategies that target CAR continue to emerge, future work poised to understand the biological implications of manipulating CAR in vivo is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine vesicular disease (SVD) is a contagious viral disease of pigs. The clinical signs of SVD are indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases, such as senecavirus A infection (SVA) and foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD). Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests of SVD are considered essential in countries free of vesicular diseases. Competitive ELISA (cELISA) is the serological test used routinely. However, although cELISA is the standard test for SVD antibody testing, this test produces a small number of false‐positive results, which caused problems in international trade. The current project developed a SVD isotype antibody ELISA using recombinant SVD virus‐like particles (VLP) and an SVD‐specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) to reduce the percentage of false positives. The diagnostic specificities of SVD‐VLP isotype ELISAs were 98.7% and 99.6% for IgM and IgG. The SVD isotype ELISAs were SVD‐specific, without cross‐reactivity to other vesicular diseases. A panel of 16 SVD‐positive reference sera was evaluated using the SVD‐VLP isotype ELISAs. All sera were correctly identified as positive by the two combined SVD‐VLP isotype ELISAs. Comparison of the test results showed a high level of correlation between the SVDV antigen isotype ELISAs and SVD‐VLP isotype ELISAs. 303 sera from animals lacking clinical signs and history of SVDV exposure were identified positive using SVD cELISA. These samples were examined using SVD‐VLP isotype ELISAs. Of the 303 serum samples, five were positive for IgM, and five of 303 were positive for IgG. Comparable to virus neutralization test results, SVD isotype ELISAs significantly reduced the false‐positive samples. Based on above test results, the combined use of cELISA and isotype ELISAs can reduce the number of false‐positive samples and the use of time‐consuming virus neutralization tests, with benefit for international trade in swine and related products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validated procedures for decontamination of laboratory surfaces and equipment are essential to biosafety and biorisk programs at high-containment laboratories. Each high-containment laboratory contains a unique combination of surfaces, procedures, and biological agents that require decontamination methods tailored to specific facility practices. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) is a high-containment laboratory operating multiple biosafety level (BSL)-3, ABSL-3, and BSL-3 Ag spaces. The PIADC facility requires the use of federally issued smart cards, called personal identity verification (PIV) cards, to access information technology (IT) networks both outside and within the high-containment laboratory. Because PIV cards may require transit from the BSL-3 to office spaces, a validated procedure for disinfecting PIV card surfaces prior to removal from the laboratory is critical to ensure biosafety and biosecurity. Two high-risk select agents used in the PIADC high-containment laboratory are foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV). We evaluated disinfection of PIV cards intentionally spotted with FMDV and SVDV using a modified quantitative carrier test and the liquid chemical disinfectant Virkon® S. Our experimental design modeled a worst-case scenario of PIV card contamination and disinfection by combining high concentrations of virus dried with an organic soil load and use of aged Virkon® S prepared in hard water. Results showed that FMDV and SVDV dried on PIV card surfaces were completely inactivated after immersion for 30 and 60 seconds, respectively, in a 5-day-old solution of 1% Virkon® S. Therefore, this study provided internal validation of PIADC biosafety protocols by demonstrating the efficacy of Virkon® S to inactivate viruses on contaminated smart cards at short contact times. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is a high-containment laboratory operating multiple biosafety level spaces. The facility requires the use of federally issued smart cards to access information technology networks both outside and within the high-containment laboratory. Because these cards may require transit from the BSL-3 to office spaces, a validated procedure for disinfecting card surfaces before removal from the laboratory is critical to ensure biosafety and biosecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]