UK: Multi-species study aids understanding of avian influenza
United Kingdom
Published Mar 25, 2023
Tridge summary
Researchers examining the response to mild and severe bird flu strains in different species have found that immune processes and key genes play a pivotal
Original content
role in how they respond to infection. They examined the response to 6 species: 2 that are susceptible to bird flu (chicken and turkey) but also duck and crow, which tolerate and spread disease, and goose and pigeon, which are known to be highly resistant. The team from The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, sought to pinpoint biological differences that affect the outcomes of infection. The results showed: The study, which is one of the first to compare responses to the brain, suggests that this impact on the organ may be the cause of sickness and death from flu in chickens and turkeys. On the other hand, pigeons may be protected by having high levels of what is known as interferon-stimulated genes, which are involved in the immune response to infection. The results also highlighted the benefits of a speedy innate immune response to infection, as delayed reactions tend to lead to worse outcomes. Commenting on the study, which was published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection ...
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