2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) 1. Develop cassette concept for avian influenza hemagglutinin gene insert for recombinant fowl poxvirus vaccines. 2. Update the H5 AI insert in current licensed recombinant fowl poxvirus product. 3. Developing vaccination protocols for commercial poultry to maximize inactivated AI and recombinant fowl pox vaccine efficacies. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Avian influenza (AI) hemagglutinin genes for insertion in recombinant fowl poxvirus (rFP) vaccines will be accomplished based on collection, sequencing and analyzing current H5 AI field viruses. New rFP vaccines will be constructed and tested for efficacy in both high and low pathogenicity AI chicken and duck challenge models with measurement of protection being prevention of illness and death, increasing resistance to infection, reduction in number of infected birds and a decrease in the amount of challenge virus shed from respiratory and alimentary tracts. The rFP and inactivated AI vaccines will be tested in commercial poultry with development of priming and boost vaccination protocols to optimize immunity and protection. 3.Progress Report This research is related to inhouse objective 2: Develop vaccines that effectively stop outbreaks, allow differentiation from natural infection and can be administered in a cost effective manner. Vaccines against avian influenza (AI) are valuable in the prevention and control of the disease and can be used in eradication strategies. During Fiscal Year 2011, studies were conducted looking at the induction of protective active immunity by primary vaccination with an adjuvanted unpurified subunit hemagglutinin protein from H5N1 avian influenza produced in a plant expression system, a live recombinant fowl poxvirus with H5 avian influenza hemagglutinin gene insert (rFPV-H5-AIV), or an classic inactivated Chinese vaccine; alone or in combination. The Classic inactivated vaccine provided good protection against Vietnam, Egyptian and Indonesia variants H5N1 HPAI viruses. A two shot regime of rFPV-H5-AIV gave good protection against the Egyptian variant virus. The adjuvanted unpurified subunit hemagglutinin protein gave good protection against Vietnam virus and partial protection against Egyptian and Indonesian viruses.