Lastly, we used a novel measure of airway responsiveness – Newtonian resistance at the highest MCh dose given, divided by Mch dose and divided by mouse weight, when methacholine dose was titrated to achieve Rn of approximately 1 cm H2O/ml/ sec. We chose this approach because it allowed use to evaluate airway responsiveness at approximately the same level of bronchoconstriction in each mouse. In summary, two-QTL analysis disclosed an interacting pair of novel loci that contribute to the native airway hyperresponsiveness in A/J mice. Further bioinformatics analysis suggests that the presence of homozygous A/J alleles of Rock1 and Limk2, or of Npc1 and Npc1l1, or of both pairs, may account for the observed genetic interaction, and evidence from the literature supports the plausibility of these possibilities. Definitive testing of these possibilities could be done by evaluating the airway responsiveness of sets of genetically engineered mice that harbor the A/J or C57BL/6J alleles of either or both genes of each network pair, set in either the A/J or C57BL/6J background. Our present results should stimulate evaluation of the genetic contribution of these networks in the regulation of airway responsiveness in humans. Porcine reproductive and AB1010 supply respiratory syndrome virus and classical swine fever virus are both single-stranded RNA viruses that cause highly contagious diseases and lead to tremendous economic losses worldwide. Invasion of PRRSV begins with the inability of the host’s anti-viral defenses to control replication of the virus, which arises from evasion of the early warning components of the immune system and leads to long-lasting viremia. The target cells for CSFV in the peripheral blood appear to be mainly monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytic cells, but all leukocyte populations can be depleted during CSFV infection. Viral infectious diseases are not treated effectively with drugs but are prevented by vaccination with appropriate vaccines. Combined application of a vaccine with an adjuvant or immunopotentiator could improve the efficacy of a vaccine; however, new strains of virus resistant to chemical adjuvants continue to emerge and potent adjuvant action is often correlated. Astragalus membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used as a tonic to enhance immune defense functions. The antiviral activity of AM is thought to be mainly due to modulatory effects on the immune system. Evidence indicates that AM extract has mitogenic activity on mammalian splenocytes, and is capable of enhancing lymphocyte blastogenesis and stimulating macrophage activation without cytotoxic effects. Astragalus polysaccharide, extracted from AM, has an extensive effect on alleviating immune stress, activating the immune system by clearing the immune complex, enhancing the transformation of T lymphocytes, and activating B lymphocytes and dendritic cells. Several hundred cellular genes have been shown to be altered by AM extract treatment. Some of these responses are associated with the induction of a cytokine gene profile directed toward a generalized or preparative immune/inflammatory response such as promoting the production of interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma, and thus improving immune defense functions and resisting the invasion of the external pathogens.