To understand the differences in susceptibility to WNV among bird species we carried out experimental inoculations, i.e we infected a group of individuals with WNV. We compared the response to a West Nile Virus infection in three species, sparrows, European turtle dove, and common quail. The sparrows were the more susceptible, with individuals dying as a consequence of the infection. The dove and quail were less susceptible but there were no differences between them. Both were asymptomatic, but got infected and mounted an immune response that allowed them to develop antibodies. We then studied which genes were being expressed. To study gene expression, I used RNA extracted from two tissues. I designed probes to improve RNA library preparation and analyzed the results using bioinformatic tools. I was able to get gene expression results for the common quail and the European turtle dove. The results show that genes involved in the immune response were expressed. This included genes involved in the innate immune response that recognize RNA viruses. There was also gene expression of genes involved in the adaptive immune response like MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex), a cluster of genes that codes for proteins on the cell surface that bind to antigens and present them to T cells to trigger the adaptive immune response. These results are consistent with the generation of antibodies in both species.
Work was conducted via 3 work packages that combined, scientific, training, and transfer of knowledge goals. During the fellowship, I have published 3 journal articles related to the research activity in this project (Ecosistemas 29:1969; Frontiers in Microbiology. 2020;11:3169; Environmental Research. 2021:110893) and one invited review (Molecular Ecology.29: 3809-3811). I expect to generate 2 additional publications from the data obtained in the last work package. In addition, I have also presented the project in a workshop. I have also carried out a number of outreach activities to communicate the results of the project beyond the scientific community. To this extend I have given 2 talks in elementary schools, I have presented a video, a talk, and an activity in the Night of European Researchers (2019 and 2020), I have given a talk at the Pint of Science 2019, and I have published one blog post on infectious diseases in the Blog of the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology and a press article in the Diario de Sevilla. In addition, I have participated in the European Research Executive Agency #MyJobinResearch.
