Flu-MAP
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Infectious Disease
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The UK poultry industry is experiencing severe socio-economic damage and threats from high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) H5Nx of clade 2.3.4.4. These viruses pose zoonotic infections risks. The rapid evolution of these viruses is modulating their biological behaviour (epidemiology, host-range, transmission, and pathogenesis) in different avian species. To determine potential risks and improve controls against these emerging and re-emerging viruses requires a comprehensive knowledge base about the nature of prevailing viruses, and an integrated cross-disciplinary approach to studying virus ecology and epidemiology based on understanding virus/host interactions, and the genetic determinants of virulence, transmissibility and antigenicity in wild birds/poultry.
This project will investigate how contemporary H5Nx HPAIVs acquire adaptive changes to increase fitness within domestic and wild avian populations. We will define viral and host factors that potentially contribute to increased transmissibility, persistence, and pathogenicity in wild birds and those that enhance their potential to disseminate and manifest disease in poultry. Evolutionary changes drive virological, immunological and zoonotic infection potential of these viruses therefore, our understanding of environmental and molecular correlates required or associated with successful evolution, immune escape, dissemination and maintenance of HPAIVs via migratory populations of wild birds will be developed. Furthermore, we will define molecular markers for successful interspecies transmission and fitness in poultry with severe clinical outcomes. The will provide insights for assessing threats from new and emerging strains, enabling national and international agencies to design and execute contingencies as part of risk mitigation and disease control. This will provide vital information when considering how to invest scarce resources for surveillance design aimed at early warning of the threat.
This project will investigate how contemporary H5Nx HPAIVs acquire adaptive changes to increase fitness within domestic and wild avian populations. We will define viral and host factors that potentially contribute to increased transmissibility, persistence, and pathogenicity in wild birds and those that enhance their potential to disseminate and manifest disease in poultry. Evolutionary changes drive virological, immunological and zoonotic infection potential of these viruses therefore, our understanding of environmental and molecular correlates required or associated with successful evolution, immune escape, dissemination and maintenance of HPAIVs via migratory populations of wild birds will be developed. Furthermore, we will define molecular markers for successful interspecies transmission and fitness in poultry with severe clinical outcomes. The will provide insights for assessing threats from new and emerging strains, enabling national and international agencies to design and execute contingencies as part of risk mitigation and disease control. This will provide vital information when considering how to invest scarce resources for surveillance design aimed at early warning of the threat.
People |
ORCID iD |
Wendy Barclay (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Byrne A
(2023)
Investigating the Genetic Diversity of H5 Avian Influenza Viruses in the United Kingdom from 2020-2022
in Microbiology Spectrum
Falchieri M
(2022)
Shift in HPAI infection dynamics causes significant losses in seabird populations across Great Britain.
in The Veterinary record
Furness R
(2023)
Environmental Samples Test Negative for Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 Four Months after Mass Mortality at A Seabird Colony
in Pathogens
James J
(2023)
Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) from the 2021/22 epizootic is highly duck adapted and poorly adapted to chickens
in Journal of General Virology
Description | There is a current outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza on an unprecedented scale. The virus has evolved from one that circulated between 2014-2020. We have found that the extensive reassortment during those years whereby the virus acquired gene segments from other low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in wild birds, has resulted in a large increase in its fitness. |
Exploitation Route | We now aim to extend our research to understand the of this widespread virus to other wild mammals and also to humans. We will use the reagents generated during this study which focussed on birds. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Description | We have input our knowledge to a report written by a subgroup of SAC-ED for DEFRA, to inform about teh current avian influenza outbreak and what might eb done o limit rishs to poultry and other sectors including humans. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Australasian Virology Society's 21st Anniversary Meeting (AVS11), held in Australia, 5-8 December 2022. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Virology in Australia to share and encourage collaborations and exchange of knowledge |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.avs.org.au/ |
Description | Cardiff University Infection & Immunity meeting 2022 'Saving the world from the next pandemic' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Infection and Immunity annual meeting 2022 Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ, United Kingdom |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/systems-immunity |
Description | MicrobiologySociety Annual Conference Belfast - Avian Flu |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Speaker |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://microbiologysociety.org/event/annual-conference/annual-conference-2022 |
Description | NSV portugal organiser XVIII International Conference on Negative Strand Viruses |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | co-organiser |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | New York Times interviewed by David Quammen on H5N |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | interview |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | The Briefing Room interview about Bird Flu |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | interview |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | The Naked Scientist - Could bird flu be the next pandemic? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | co-organiser - Avian Flu |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Open discussion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |