Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) (President Yang Oh-bong) doctoral student Kim Seung-chae (Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology; supervisor Professor Kim Won-il) won the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award (American College of Veterinary Microbiologists Student Award - 3rd Place Oral Presentation) at the 2024 Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD), held recently in Chicago, USA.

Kim presented the paper titled "Farm Infection and Pathological Characteristics of a NADC34-like PRRSV Variant in Korea (Study on the Pathogenicity of a Novel Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Characteristics of Domestic Impact)" and was selected as an award winner.

Kim was the first in Korea to report disease outbreaks caused by a NADC34-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Through follow-up studies, he identified the characteristic patterns of farm-level damage caused by the disease and conducted research to determine the virus's immunopathological characteristics using challenge inoculation experiments in weaned piglets.

Kim said, "This study, by identifying the patterns of farm infection and the virus's immunopathological characteristics, is expected to assist future efforts in virus diagnosis, vaccine development, and therapeutic research." He added, "We plan to continue steady research to characterize the virus in additional animal models, such as sow challenge inoculation, and to pursue vaccine development and other therapeutic studies."

This research was carried out with support from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency under the research project "Evaluation of Pathogenicity and Cross-Protection of Domestic PRRSV through Animal Inoculation (Z-1543069-2017-20-1)".