Avian Influenza Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Avian Influenza, including details on bird flu, h5n1, risks, vaccines, prevention.

Immune-related gene expression in response to H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in chicken and duck embryonic fibroblasts.

Liang QL, Luo J, Zhou K, Dong JX, He HX

National Research Center For Wildlife Born Diseases, Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.

Chicken and ducks are important hosts in responses to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 infection. In ducks, avian influenza (AI) generally causes an asymptomatic and long-lasting infection, whereas clinical apparent and transient disease is often observed in chickens. Using real-time quantitative PCR, we examined the expression of immune-related genes in response to H5N1 infection in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and duck embryo fibroblasts (DEF). While in CEF IL-6 expressed at high levels similar to mammalian species, in DEF expression levels were minimal. Similarly, duck IFN-β expression were slightly upregulated, whereas chicken expressions were highly upregulated. Chronologically, the mRNA levels of both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, which belong to type I and type II interferon, respectively, were unregulated in a similar fashion in chickens than in ducks. IL-2 and TLR-7 were elevated from the beginning of the infection in both CEF and DEF to the end of the experiment. Chicken MHC class I expression was almost unaffected while duck expression were downregulated. DEF and CEF MHC class II expression were downregulated. Chemokine IL-8 expression was upregulated in both species. The IL-8 levels closely parallel the IL-1β induced IL-6 levels in the same samples. These results show distinct embryo fibroblasts expression patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IFNs between species.

Published 21 February 2011 in Mol Immunol, 48(6): 924-30.
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Articles on Avian Influenza published 21 February 2011:

Virological and molecular epidemiological investigations into the role of wild birds in the epidemiology of influenza A/H5N1 in central Thailand.   Vet Microbiol, 148(2): 213-8.

A serological and virological surveillance program to investigate the HPAI H5N1 virus in wild bird populations was undertaken from February 2007 to October 2008. The purpose of the survey was to investigate the infection status in free ranging wild birds in Banglane district, Nakhon Pathom province, central Thailand. Samples from wild birds were collected every two months. Choanal and cloacal swabs, serum and tissue samples were collected from 421 birds comprising 44 species. Sero-prevalence of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Susceptibility of Muscovy (Cairina Moschata) and mallard ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos) to experimental infections by different genotypes of H5N1 avian influenza viruses.   Vet Microbiol, 148(2): 168-74.

It is a fact that in Viet Nam, Muscovy ducks are raised in large populations (approximately 8 million), usually kept in small flocks together with mallards and chickens. As a result, it is a great concern for epidemiologists to elucidate possible differences in relation to these species being exposed to infection with H5N1. To do this, an experimental study on infections with different genotypes of H5N1 in mallards and Muscovy ducks have been conducted, where it was found that the mortality of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Phylogenetic evidence of multiple introduction of H5N1 virus in Malda district of West Bengal, India in 2008.   Vet Microbiol, 148(2): 132-9.

Outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza virus were reported in 15 districts of West Bengal State in India in early 2008 and subsequent re-occurrence in 5 districts in December, 2008 to May, 2009. We have sequenced complete genome of 12 viruses isolated from early 2008 outbreak and from recurrent outbreak and determined the phylogenetic relationship between the viruses isolated from the two outbreaks. One of the virus isolated in early 2008 from Malda district (A/chicken/West Bengal/81760/2008) ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Avian Influenza published 14 February 2011:

Immune response in the duck intestine following infection with low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses or stimulation with a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist administered orally.   J Gen Virol, 92: 534-43.

This study analysed the immune response in the intestinal tract of ducks infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses compared with ducks treated orally with R848, a synthetic Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist. Influenza virus infection induced a type I interferon (IFN)-dependent immune response characterized by the expression of Mx transcripts in the ileum at levels that were proportional to viral load. Mx transcripts were detected in differentiated enterocytes from influenza ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Avian Influenza published 10 February 2011:

Vaccination of poultry workers: delivery and uptake of seasonal influenza immunization.   Zoonoses Public Health, 58(2): 126-30.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease in poultry and although the risk of human infection is low, concerns exist that it could evolve into a new human strain of pandemic potential if reassortment with a human influenza virus occurs. In January 2007, the UK government introduced a programme to vaccinate poultry workers to reduce the potential of such an event. This study evaluates the delivery, uptake and costs of the programme in three counties of England. A questionnaire survey was ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Vaccination of poultry workers: delivery and uptake of seasonal influenza immunization.   Zoonoses Public Health, 58(2): 126-30.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease in poultry and although the risk of human infection is low, concerns exist that it could evolve into a new human strain of pandemic potential if reassortment with a human influenza virus occurs. In January 2007, the UK government introduced a programme to vaccinate poultry workers to reduce the potential of such an event. This study evaluates the delivery, uptake and costs of the programme in three counties of England. A questionnaire survey was ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Avian Influenza published 7 February 2011:

The PA protein directly contributes to the virulence of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in domestic ducks.   J Virol, 85(5): 2180-8.

During their circulation in nature, H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have acquired the ability to kill their natural hosts, wild birds and ducks. The genetic determinants for this increased virulence are largely unknown. In this study, we compared two genetically similar H5N1 AIVs, A/duck/Hubei/49/05 (DK/49) and A/goose/Hubei/65/05 (GS/65), that are lethal for chickens but differ in their virulence levels in ducks. To explore the genetic basis for this difference in virulence, we generated a ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Avian Influenza published 28 January 2011:

Integrating surveillance and biosecurity activities to achieve efficiencies in national avian influenza programs.   Prev Vet Med, 98(4): 292-4.

Based on the HPAI experience, efforts to improve global capacity to prevent and control zoonotic diseases should consider new and more efficient models for integrating prevention and surveillance activities. [Abstract] [Full-text]

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