Receptor interactions of Coronaviruses as an antiviral target and determinant of cell tropism and pathogenicity

Poultry infected with viral diseases- including avian influenza viruses, Infectious Bronchitis virus and/or Newcastle disease viruses- suffer severe morbidity and mortality which gravely impacts the global poultry production and the industry as a whole. Zoonotic transmission of avian influenza has also resulted in extensive human infection. Effective control of these viruses in poultry is complex, with current interventions involving culling of infected and at-risk poultry, restrictions to poultry movement and routine sampling and surveillance. The impact of disease is reduced through vaccination; however, available vaccines do not guarantee complete protection or sterile immunity.
This PhD project will evaluate the antiviral potential and molecular properties of egg derived proteins for use in a novel prophylactic treatment of farmed poultry against poultry viral diseases. Preliminary data shows the identified candidates are able to inhibit the haemagglutination ability of different viruses. The antiviral activities of the identified proteins will be evaluated using virological approaches including the use of cell culture, embryonated chicken eggs and in vivo chicken infection models. The follow-on studies will analyse molecular properties of these naturally derived molecules and exploit molecular biology, biotechnology technologies to produce more stable antiviral therapeutics in vitro in cell culture systems.