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Content archived on 2024-06-25

Vaccine, diagnostic test development and immunology aspects of avian influenza

Objective

Avian Influenza is a zoonotic disease and seen as one of the most important emerging diseases with serious economic consequences. Although some vaccines for poultry are available, all vaccines have considerable drawbacks with regard to cost, dose and application methods (injection), onset of immunity or efficacy which limits their use. The primary aim of this project is to develop better avian influenza vaccines through live or vector vaccines that could be mass applicable through spray, drinking water or eye drop. These vector vaccines would offer considerable advantages; less labour intensive and animal friendly application, local immunity protection and less interference with eventual maternal antibodies, more complete protection trough cellular and humoral immunity, faster onset of immunity when used in face of an outbreak and cheaper production methods.

The project exploits recently acquired knowledge concerning the molecular characterization of the viruses resulting in the construction of candidate st rains with highly interesting efficacy and safety profile. Safety and efficacy with Newcastle disease (NDV) vectors and infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) vectors both for H5 and for H7 inserts have already been demonstrated in vivo. A system in which gene cassettes for the foreign proteins can easily be constructed and exchanged will be developed to be able to respond very quickly to a change in antigenicity of the field virus. Further optimised additional candidate strains will be constructed and extensively tested. Experiments on genetic in vitro and in vivo stability, immunological responses, virulence testing, spreading, transmission studies in chickens, ducks and other avian species will be performed. Such vaccines would also have marker aspects which would allow differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals (DIVA principle). Sensitive, specific and easy to use marker diagnostic tests that will be compatible with the vaccines will also be developed.

Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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FP6-2005-SSP-5-B-INFLUENZA
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Funding Scheme

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STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

INTERVET INTERNATIONAL BV
EU contribution
No data
Total cost

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No data

Participants (2)

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