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Virus transmission dynamics and the immune response of birds to avian influenza
Reference
BBS/E/I/00001309
Principal Investigator / Supervisor
Dr Colin Butter
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution
The Pirbright Institute
Department
The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type
Research
Value (£)
493,251
Status
Completed
Type
Institute Project
Start date
05/05/2009
End date
31/05/2015
Duration
72 months
Abstract
At present H5N1 avian influenza is an animal disease problem under urgent need of control. The widespread occurrence and wide host range of the H5N1 virus poses a serious threat to the human population, potentially leading to the evolution of a human influenza pandemic. Our knowledge of the behaviour of avian influenza viruses in domestic fowl and wild birds is limited. Virus infection dynamics of H7N1 low and high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses and highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses in chickens, turkeys and ducks will be compared. Extensive in-depth sequence analysis of the virus haemagglutinin gene will be undertaken to examine within-host selection of virus variants in each species- avian host range determinants. We also will determine whether in-bred chickens lines show genetic differences in susceptibility to infection and in virus shedding, and whether there are genetic differences in the immune response of the in-bred lines to infection and vaccination- these studies can provide a starting point to uncovering the genetic basis of host resistance to influenza virus infection. The immune response to infection will be studied at tissue level, and protective cellular, humoral and cytokine responses will be defined.
Summary
unavailable
Committee
Not funded via Committee
Research Topics
Animal Health, Immunology, Microbiology
Research Priority
X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative
X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme
X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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