Pirbright scientists recently developed a potential bird flu vaccine that offered better protection to chickens. This vaccine was easier and less costly to produce than traditional flu vaccines.
Researchers at the Institute have now discovered even more benefits from this vaccine which potentially protects birds from the H9N2 strain of avian flu as soon as they hatch.
The new vaccine was able to induce a faster and stronger immune response in vaccinated chickens due to its specialised design, known as a ‘targeted antigen delivery vaccine’. It works by taking antigens (the parts of the virus that activate the immune system) directly to a set of cells in the immune system that are responsible for processing and displaying antigens on their cell surface. The display of virus antigens triggers other immune cells to recognise the virus and remove it, creating a protective immune response to stop birds getting and spreading flu.
When chicks are born, they have immunity passed on to them via their mothers. However, this immunity can decrease the effectiveness of vaccines, meaning that chicks are more susceptible to disease. In the most recent study published in npj Vaccines, researchers discovered that this novel vaccine could avoid interference from those maternal antibodies that protect the chick in the first few weeks of life. This is important as chicks are usually vaccinated against flu one day after hatching, when maternal antibodies are at their highest level.
The study compared three different types of vaccines on interference from maternal antibodies: the targeted antigen delivery vaccine, an untargeted vaccine and an inactivated H9N2 vaccine (the standard vaccine used in poultry). Data showed that the targeted antigen delivery vaccine not only resulted in the highest levels of antibodies against H9N2 flu virus, but that it was the only vaccine that gave long lasting protection against flu and was not affected by maternal antibodies. A targeted antigen delivery vaccine is therefore a crucial step to reduce the devastating effects that avian influenza has on poultry health and food security.
Professor Munir Iqbal, Head of Pirbright’s Avian Influenza Virus group, said: “This research highlights the importance of improving vaccine development which will reduce disease and improve animal welfare. Targeted antigen delivery vaccines have the potential to be the next generation of poultry vaccines as they generate powerful immune responses which protect chickens and reduce the risk of avian influenza spreading to humans. Furthermore, overcoming maternal antibody interference is important for disease control and will ensure that all chickens are protected once they hatch. Further studies will focus on testing the effectiveness of this vaccine in the field to ensure it can be applied to real life poultry production.”
ENDS
For more information please contact communications@pirbright.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 231120.
Notes to Editors
The paper ‘Haemagglutinin antigen selectively targeted to chicken CD83 overcomes interference from maternally derived antibodies in chickens’ will be available in npj Vaccines with the DOI/link https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-022-00448-2
This research was funded by UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Grants.
About The Pirbright Institute
The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. Based in the UK and receiving strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Institute works to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience.
The Institute is an independent company, limited by guarantee and a registered charity, governed by a Board of non-executive Trustee Directors.
With an annual income of £37 million from grants and commercial activity, and a total of £43.7 million strategic investment from BBSRC UKRI during 2021-2022, the Institute contributes to global food security and health, improving quality of life for animals and people.
For more information about The Pirbright Institute see: www.pirbright.ac.uk
Follow The Pirbright Institute on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
About BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by government, BBSRC invested £451 million in world-class bioscience in 2019-20. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
More information about BBSRC UKRI, its science and its impact: www.bbsrc.ukri.org
More information about BBSRC UKRI strategically funded institutes
Data Privacy
You are receiving this content as we believe it will be in your interest. Should you no longer want to receive Pirbright press releases please reply with STOP or should you wish to know more about how we will use your data please refer to our Data Privacy Notice.