Adjuvant is a substance added to a vaccine to enhance immune response.

An antibody is a protein in the serum of animals made in response to an antigen. When the correct antigens are used in a vaccine, antibodies to this antigen protect the animal from disease.

An antigen is any substance, e.g. protein, which is capable of inducing a specific immune response.

DIVA stands for differentiate infected from vaccinate animals. This is accomplished by having only a portion (subunit) of the pathogen in the vaccine. If anitbodies to other parts of the pathogen not included in the vaccine are detected the animal has been infected with the pathogen. If only antibodies to the vaccine subunit are detected, the animal has not been infected. For a vaccine to enable DIVA is important in control and eradication strategies.

Electroporation is a technique used to physically place genetic materials, such as replicons, into cells so that subunit can be produced by the cells.

A GOI is a gene of interest. These are specific genes that are inserted into the RNA platform for either RS or RP vaccine production.

Lysate is a preparation containing the contents of lysed cells. In the lab, cells are used to grow or produce the vaccine. The cells are then destroyed by mechanical or chemical treatment and homogenized, releasing the vaccine into the solution.

PAD stands for protective antigenic determinants. This is the collection of one or multiple antigens that are required for the induction of protective immunity.

A pathogen is any disease-producing agent or microorganism.

A PCR is a polymerase chain reaction. This is a method of amplification of specific genetic material from a biological sample. The genetic material can then be used for recombination into a vector.

Recombinant is genetic material that codes for an antigen from the target pathogen which is integrated (spliced) into a different organism capable of reproducing large quantities of the antigen.

An RNA particle is a portion of the VEE (Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis) virus which can infect cells on its own and then produce the desired subunit either in the laboratory or directly in the animal. When given directly to the animal, cells are infected and produce the subunits thereby mimicking what occurs during natural infection.

RNA subunit is a vaccine containing only specific antigens of the pathogen, e.g. HA protein is a subunit of influenza virus. The subunits are produced in the laboratory using an AlphaVax replicon and administered to the animal already formed.

A vaccine is a substance administered to an animal for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of infectious diseases.

A vector is an organism which serves to transfer recombinant genetic material from a pathogen to cells in a laboratory or directly to the animal.

VEE is an Alphavirus that is the source of the AlphaVax technology. TC-83 is an attenuated vaccine strain that is not considered a select agent.

Vero cells are a single cell type that can be grown in the lab and used to produce RS or RP vaccines for any desired pathogen.