Genetically Modified Chicken to help prevent Bird Flu

Researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh have developed genetically modified chickens to prevent them from spreading bird flu. The scientists have successfully developed genetically modified (transgenic) chickens that do not transmit avian influenza virus to other chickens with which they are in contact. This would protect the health of domestic poultry and at the same time reduce the risk of bird flu epidemics leading to new flu virus epidemics in the human population.

Dr. Laurence Tiley, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Virology from the University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, said, "Chickens are potential bridging hosts that can enable new strains of flu to be transmitted to humans. Preventing virus transmission in chickens should reduce the economic impact of the disease and reduce the risk posed to people exposed to the infected birds. The genetic modification we describe is a significant first step along the path to developing chickens that are completely resistant to avian flu.”

The Cambridge and Edinburgh scientists introduced a new gene that manufactures a small "decoy" molecule that mimics an important control element of the bird flu virus. The gene - which was added to embryo chicks while they were in the egg - produces 'decoy' loops of RNA, in cells throughout their bodies. The decoy RNA interferes with the machinery that viruses use to make copies of themselves inside cells and spread throughout the body.  When the transgenic chickens were infected with avian flu, they became sick but did not transmit the infection on to other chickens kept in the same pen with them. This was the case even if the other chickens were normal (non-transgenic) birds.

However, the chicken lovers would still have to be patient as Dr.Tiley also mentioned that these particular birds are only intended for research purposes and not for consumption. The British team behind the GM chicken says it is 'inconceivable' that its meat or eggs could be harmful.  It will undergo rigorous safety checks before it could enter into the food chain. Anti GM campaigners disapproved of the public ever accepting GM eggs and meat. They do not consider genetic engineering as an answer to stop bird flu.

Avian flu is a serious threat not only to the farmers but also the people. Although, it does not easily infect humans but when it does it proves to be fatal. Doctors fear it could mutate in flocks of chickens into a new strain that is transmissible from person to person, fuelling a pandemic that kills millions of people.

Researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh are aiming to make birds fully resistant to avian influenza infection rather than just blocking bird-to-bird transmission that they have managed so far.

The study, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), is published in the journal Science.