Development of innate immune stimulants for the control of avian influenza A virus infection

Abstract

The vaccination failure and the extensive use of antiviral agents against AIVs increases the risk of highly resistant viruses being transmitted to humans. Therefore, investigating new alternative and complementary strategies targeting AIV is a necessity. One of the control options gaining increasing attention is the induction of broadly effective innate host responses. -The in ovo delivery of dsRNA significantly reduces the H4N6 LPAIV replication in lungs pre-hatch when compared to controls that received PBS, where, H4N6 LPAIV titers in lungs of dsRNA treated and controls are measured by plaque assay. - Using immunostaining technique; the in ovo delivery of dsRNA has increased TLR3 expression in ED19 lungs when compared to the controls that received PBS. - The in ovo delivery of dsRNA increased expressions of IFN-a and IFN-b in lungs 24 hours post-treatment by immunofluorescence staining technique. - The in ovo delivered dsRNA significantly increased the number of macrophages in lungs at ED19 by immunoassay.