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Title:   Author  item
                                            Kapczynski, Darrellitem
                                            Zsak, Anikoitem
                                            EWALD, SANDRA - Auburn Universityitem
                                            Suarez, David
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2012
                                    Publication  Date: 4/4/2012
                                    Citation: Kapczynski, D.R., Zsak, A., Ewald, S., Suarez, D.L. 2012. Difference in susceptibility to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus following interferon alpha application in chickens expressing polymorphism in the chicken Mx gene [abstract]. 8th International Symposium on Avian Influenza. Available: http://vla.defra.gov.uk/news/new_isai12.htmInterpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Type I interferons, including interferon alpha (IFN-a), represent a first line of defense initiated by the innate immune response following viral infection.  Induction of IFN-a results in an antiviral state which can decrease morbidity and mortality. In response to IFN-a, host cells produce a myriad of anti-viral proteins, including Mx, which has been shown to confer protection against influenza in mammalian studies.  Chickens have a single Mx gene with multiple alleles.  In previous experiments, transfecting cDNAs of various alleles into mouse 3T3 cells, a single nucleotide polymorphism encoding an Asn631Ser dimorphism in the chicken Mx protein determined antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV).  Mx-Asn631 was antivirally positive in transfection experiments, whereas the Mx-Ser631 alleles lacked antiviral activity.  We have previously demonstrated the protective potential of IFN-a applied to poultry against low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.  In those studies, intranasal application of IFN-a during infection reduced clinical signs of disease and the incidence of viral shedding.  In these studies, we evaluated the Mx-631 dimorphism on pathogenesis of HPAIV H5N1 in specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens that segregate for Mx-631 alleles during IFN-a application.  We observed >90 percent protection from mortality that was dependent on Mx-631 allele.  Birds with the Mx-Asn631 (White Leghorn) were resistant to disease whereas Mx-Ser631 birds (White Rock) were susceptible to HPAIV.  Results of virus shedding and antibody responses will be discussed.  Taken together, these studies show that IFN-a can protect chickens from disease associated with HPAIV and that Mx may contribute to that protection.


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