Suppression of Avian Influenza Transmission in Genetically Modified Chickens

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 331; no. 6014; pp. 223 - 226
• Main Authors: Lyall, Jon, Irvine, Richard M, Sherman, Adrian, McKinley, Trevelyan J, Núñez, Alejandro, Purdie, Auriol, Outtrim, Linzy, Brown, Ian H, Rolleston-Smith, Genevieve, Sang, Helen, Tiley, Laurence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 14-01-2011; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Avian flu; Avian influenza virus; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Cell Line; Chickens; Chickens - genetics; Chickens - virology; Cloaca - virology; Disease control; Disease transmission; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering; Infections; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - enzymology; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - physiology; Influenza in Birds - prevention & control; Influenza in Birds - transmission; Influenza in Birds - virology; Influenza virus; Mortality; Oropharynx - virology; Poultry; RNA; RNA Replicase - antagonists & inhibitors; RNA Replicase - genetics; RNA Replicase - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; RNA, Viral - analysis; RNA, Viral - genetics; RNA, Viral - metabolism; Terrestrial animal productions; Transfection; Vaccination; Vertebrates; Viral RNA; Virus Replication; Virus Shedding; Viruses; RNA interference; Enzyme; Transferases; Transmission; Transgenic animal; Orthomyxoviridae; Veterinary medicine; RNA-directed RNA polymerase; Infection; Virus; Resistance; Gene silencing; Nucleotidyltransferases; Vertebrata; Influenzavirus A; Avian influenzavirus; Viral disease; Domestic animal; Chicken; Aves; Short hairpin RNA
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1198020

Infection of chickens with avian influenza virus poses a global threat to both poultry production and human health that is not adequately controlled by vaccination or by biosecurity measures. A novel alternative strategy is to develop chickens that are genetically resistant to infection. We generated transgenic chickens expressing a short-hairpin RNA designed to function as a decoy that inhibits and blocks influenza virus polymerase and hence interferes with virus propagation. Susceptibility to primary challenge with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and onward transmission dynamics were determined. Although the transgenic birds succumbed to the initial experimental challenge, onward transmission to both transgenic and nontransgenic birds was prevented.