November 21, 2024

 

Roslin: Genetic clues could help breed chickens resilient to flu

 

 

Scientists have uncovered genetic clues that could help protect chickens from deadly bird flu outbreaks, the Roslin Institute said.

 

In a study of chickens that survived a major outbreak of highly infectious avian influenza in 2015, researchers found several areas of the chickens' DNA that may influence natural resistance.

 

Using blood samples, the Roslin Institute team analysed the DNA from chickens that survived this viral outbreak and compared them with that of uninfected, presumed-susceptible birds, seeking differences that could reveal genes linked to resistance.

 

Results uncovered specific regions across nine different areas of the chicken genome where genetic variations appeared to play a role.

 

Although no single gene fully explained why some chickens survived, the study pinpointed several genes likely associated with the immune system and the birds' response to the virus. This work offers a first step toward breeding chickens with greater resilience to avian flu, which would improve both bird welfare and the stability of the poultry industry.

 

The chickens studied survived a particularly lethal avian flu outbreak, with a mortality rate of over 99%, resulting in large economic impacts on poultry farmers across the United States.

 

Some of the genes identified in these chickens, including one known as ANP32A, are already known to play a role in how animals respond to bird flu. This suggests researchers are on the right track, as the presence of a gene with a known role in viral resistance supports the idea that the other newly-identified genes may also be relevant to defence against bird flu.

 

With highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks becoming more common worldwide and infecting a wider host-range, further research could help scientists develop strategies to protect poultry and inform public health.

 

This research has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, in collaboration with industrial partners Hy-line International (USA) and personnel in Warsaw, Poland, and Iowa State University (US). The project was funded by a grant from the Iowa Egg Industry Center and the BBSRC.

 

"Chickens are extremely vulnerable to highly pathogenic strains of avian flu, so being able to examine DNA from a few birds that survived, provided us with a unique opportunity to try and understand the genetics underlying resistance," said Dr. Jacqueline Smith, senior research fellow at the Roslin Institute. "This research gives us our first look at how the host response may enable birds to fight off infection—something we're only beginning to understand now."

- Roslin Institute