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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413460
Research Project: Analysis of Genetic Factors that Increase Foodborne Pathogen Fitness, Virulence, and Antimicrobial Resistance Transfer, to Identify Interventions against Salmonella and Campylobacter in Food Animals

Location: Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research

Title: Avian influenza: discovering mechanisms of host response

Author
item LAMONT, SUSAN - Iowa State University
item Monson, Melissa
item WANG, YING - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The avian influenza (AI) virus, unfortunately, appears to be here to stay. High-path AI has exacted a devastating toll on the poultry industry in the past decade. Multiple strategies are needed to eventually manage this disease, including high biosecurity, surveillance and rapid diagnostics, vaccination, and genetic selection for more innately virus-resistant poultry. To accomplish the latter, information is needed about host resistance mechanisms that are under genetic control. Studies of the responses of relatively resistant (Fayoumi) and susceptible (Leghorn) inbred chicken lines to low-path AI (LPAI) have begun to reveal genes and molecular pathways associated with successful immune response to viral infection. Gene expression in trachea, lung, spleen and Harderian gland is markedly different between genetic lines, both with and without LPAI infection. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, interferon-stimulated genes (such as MX1 and OASL) and interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) genes exhibited some of the greatest expression differences. The immune cell (macrophage, T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte) frequencies and MHC class I and II expression in trachea differed between resistant and susceptible lines, both with and without LPAI infection. Collectively, these studies indicate that differences exist in the immune system of resistant versus susceptible birds, both before and after infection, and these differences may include the percentages of immune cells resident in or recruited to various tissues, as well as activation and repression of many genes. Future studies of the transcriptome of single cells and identification of regulatory elements will contribute to deeper understanding of the mechanisms of genetic control of immune response to AI. This information may contribute candidate genes and pathways for genetic selection, gene editing, and vaccine development to better protect chicken populations from the negative impacts of avian influenza.