A study by Roslin scientists has discovered that biological factors play a role in how different bird species respond to avian flu. The research, which compared six poultry species with varying levels of resistance to the disease, found that pigeons, known for their resistance, have high levels of genes involved in the immune response to infection. Other genes, especially those linked to the nervous system, were also identified as potentially contributing to resistance. The rapid innate immune response to infection was found to be crucial, with delayed reactions leading to worse outcomes. The study, published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, could help develop commercial birds resistant to avian flu.