Location: Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research
Project Number: 6040-32000-081-052-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2025
End Date: Jul 31, 2028
Objective:
1. Characterize the infection of LPAI viruses isolated from different avian species in avian cell lineages to identify host and viral factors contributing to viral adaptation and evolution.
2. Compare influenza strains in chickens and turkeys to understand mechanisms of disease severity and susceptibility.
3. Evaluate the avian immune system in different age periods to identify host markers or patterns of vaccine protection.
4. Identify immunodominant regions in avian influenza hemagglutinin (HA) that can be involved in broad vaccine protection.
Approach:
Characterizing avian influenza virus (AIV) host interactions and immunology will be accomplished with an inter-disciplinary approach. Transmission dynamics of low pathogenic (LP) AIVs will be evaluated in different avian cell culture systems to evaluate spread and replication dynamics at the cellular level. In vitro data will be complemented with studies in chickens and turkeys that can further elucidate the immune response in poultry. Several low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) subtypes will be used to account for variability in the virus. Correlates of protection and immunity will be identified in different breeds and ages of poultry that can be applied to vaccines and diagnostic tests. Less is known about the cellular immune response to the virus and different vaccine platforms, so cellular immunity will be a primary focus.