Influenza roadmap:
Vaccines
Roadmap for the development of candidate vaccines for influenza
Download Influenza-vaccine-development-roadmap17
Host-pathogen interactions
Dependencies
Next steps
Host-pathogen interactions
Research Question
- Understanding host-pathogen interaction relevant for virulence and immune response
- Host-virus protein interactions
- Functions of viral proteins
- Molecular determinants of virulence
Research Gaps and Challenges
- Identify changes in the viral genome/proteins affecting virulence/immune response (e.g. HA and NA and what impact this has on transmission)
- Determine influence of virus on host cell molecular biology
- Molecular changes required for virulence
- Limitation to conduct long-term studies
- Viral, host and environment factors that influence the risk of acquiring an HA multibasic cleavage site
- Virus determinants ( other than MBCS ) of local replication and potential systemic spread in target species
Solution Routes
- Gene expression in infected cells
- Understand the significance in changes of EIV NA (drift and shift)
- Identify mutations in the HA and non-HA genes that enhance transmission, shedding, and replication in different species
- Infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmission studies with emerging viruses in different domestic and wild bird species
- Long term pathogenesis studies to better characterize the dynamics of virus transmission in flocks
- Effect of multiple IAV strain infections in pig host
- Pathogenesis studies of new AIV subtypes to identify molecular mechanisms of adaptation/zoonotic risk
- Mechanisms behind increased pathology and transmission observed with some H9N2 and H5N2 LPAI strains – also strains like H3N1
- Better understanding of the increase in host range and virulence observed with H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b viruses
- Better understanding of how genetic reassortment in swine happened, causing circulation of multiple types
- Better understanding of the propensity of this virus to reassort
Dependencies
- Effect of environmental factors ( stress , ammonia , temperature , etc. ) on AIV transmission and pathogenesis (critical particularly for H9N2)
- Knowledge on mechanisms of transmission and environmental persistence of the virus (see control strategies roadmap)
- Effect of age, breed and physiological state (e.g. LPAI affects ability for egg production)
- Understanding the role of microbiome and co-infections in virus pathogenicity expressions and vaccine efficacy
- RESEARCH ROADMAP: CONTROL STRATEGIES -INFLUENZA V.1 23
- Understanding the role of factors such as pregnancy and obesity on the susceptibility of breeding sows to SIV infection
Projects
What activities are planned or underway?
US-UK Collab: Avian influenza virus in cattle, a framework for forecasting transmission dynamics of zoonotic disease in livestock systems
Planned Completion date 31/01/2030
Source Countries:
United States
PARTNERSHIP:Harnessing Bovine Organoids to Advance HPAI Influenza A Virus Research
Planned Completion date 14/03/2029
Source Countries:
United States