Grade:  The second prize

Winners:  Lu Chengping, He Kongwang, Fan Hongjie, Yao Huochun, Zhang Suhua, Hua Xiuguo, Sun Jianhe, Ni Xiuyan, Liu Peihong and Wang Jian.

Collaborators：Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences,  Shanghai Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station

  Since 1998, the research group has systematically studied Swine Streptococcosis in China, confirmed for the first time that the Swine Streptococcosis recently occurring and spreading in some areas in China was mainly caused by Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) and Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (SEZ). They have illustrated the cell adhesion by FBPS and M-like proteins, cloned and expressed the virulence genes mrp, epf, and fbps of Chinese isolates of SS2 and the gene fragments of the M-like proteins ofSEZ, and confirmed the functions of effective immune protection by the expressed products. They have identified five new virulence genes of SS2, used zebrafish and SPF mini pigs as infection models for Streptococcus suis infection, developed a rapid PCR detection kit for SS2 and its virulence factors, and set three national standards for Streptococcus suis identification. They have published 59 papers in esteemed journals in China and in the world with 257 citations by other authors.

  In this project, scientists have successfully developed an inactivated vaccine against SS2 infection and a joint inactivated vaccine against SS2 and SEZ infection, latter of which has been issued a registered certificate of animal drug. Since 2005, the above two vaccines have been administered to 77.8 6million pigs in areas in Sichuan, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces, deriving an economic benefit of about 540 million RMB for farmers.

  In the 2005 outbreak of Swine Streptococcosis in the Ziyang area and neighboring areas in Sichuan Province, the technology developed in this project played a very significant role, producing a good social influence.