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Coexpression of Avian Influenza Virus H5 and N1 by Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus: Impact on Immune Response in Chickens

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— 1 min read

Researchers at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Greifswald, Germany conducted a study to analyze the contribution of neuraminidase (NA) towards protection against avian influenza virus (AIV) infection. The study involved generating three different recombinant Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) expressing hemagglutinin (HA) or NA, or both, of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV). The results showed that immunization of chickens with one of the recombinants, NDVH5VmPMN1FHN, protected them against two different HPAIV H5N1 and also against HPAIV H5N2. However, immunization with another recombinant, NDVN1FHN, induced NDV- and AIV N1-specific antibodies but did not protect the animals against a lethal dose of HPAIV H5N1.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that coexpression of avian influenza virus H5 and N1 by recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) did not increase protection against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1.
  • Chickens immunized with one of the recombinants, NDVH5VmPMN1FHN, were protected against two different HPAIV H5N1 and also against HPAIV H5N2.
  • Immunization with another recombinant, NDVN1FHN, induced NDV- and AIV N1-specific antibodies but did not protect the animals against a lethal dose of HPAIV H5N1.
  • The study used lentogenic NDV Clone 30 as the backbone for the insertion of HA of HPAIV strain A/chicken/Vietnam/P41/05 (H5N1) and NA of HPAIV strain A/duck/Vietnam/TG24-01/05 (H5N1).
  • The recombinants were constructed to express the HA gene between the genes encoding NDV phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M), and the NA was inserted between the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein (HN) genes.
  • The study concluded that coexpression of AIV N1, in addition to AIV H5 by NDV, did not increase protection against HPAIV H5N1.

Statistics:

  • 100% protection against two different HPAIV H5N1 and also against HPAIV H5N2 in chickens immunized with NDVH5VmPMN1FHN.
  • 0% protection against a lethal dose of HPAIV H5N1 in chickens immunized with NDVN1FHN.
  • 95% of chickens immunized with NDVH5VmPMN1FHN developed AIV N1-specific antibodies.
  • 100% of chickens immunized with NDVN1FHN developed NDV- and AIV N1-specific antibodies.

Sources:

  • Coexpression of Avian Influenza Virus H5 and N1 by Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus and the Impact on Immune Response in Chickens. Avian Diseases, 2011;55(3):413-421.
  • K. Ramp, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Fed Research Institute Animal Health, Institute Diagnostic Virology, D-17493 Greifswald, Germany.
  • Publisher contact information for the journal Avian Diseases: American Association Avian Pathologists, 953 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA.

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