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<ol> <li>Produce cytokines or immune lymphokines in poultry by stimulation of spleen cells to proliferate in vitro;
<li>Identify functional activity of cytokines;
<li>Elucidate the mechanism of action of cytokines in poultry to aid in identification;
<li>Encapsule and/or bind cytokines to cell or other support matrix for delivery to neonatal chicks; and
<li>Purify cytokine(s) and cloning of gene for possible mass production.</ol>
Research will be focused on the identification and purification of cytokines which potentiate the innate immune responses of poultry that effectively prevent organ invasion of Salmonella enteritidis. Experiments will be conducted to separate and determine any effector cytokines present in our T cell supernatants and any host-derived cytokines induced endogenously in response to the injected material. Studies will be conducted to identify the specific components of a protective response and to elucidate the mechanisms of protection induced by a prophylactic administration of cytokines in neonatal chicks. Emphasis will be placed on the development of a cost-effective delivery system that can be incorporated into the poultry industry.