Zoonotic diseases are a source of repeating infections, that can be transferred from animals to humans. Avian Flu, well-known zoonotic disease, is caused by a highly pathogenic Influenza A virus, that can also infect human beings via direct contact.

Avian Flu viruses are easily and quickly distributed via birds and are therefore a possible source for pandemic events. To fight against Avian Flu pathogens by immunization with cost-effective vaccines is a common goal of veterinary medicine in order to support animal healthiness. Here, subunit vaccines from plants provide a modern and cost-effective alternative. This method provides short production time and is therefore easily to be adapted to quickly changing virus strains, low production cost and low cost for infrastructure, scalability and low infrastructure cost. Scientists from the Phytoantibody Group (Head Prof. Dr. Udo Conrad) at the IPK Gatersleben and from the IBT Hanoi, Vietnam, develop an effective method to produce such plant-based peptide vaccines. As a first result, they produced haemagglutinin oligomers in Nicotiana benthamiana plants and achieved potentially neutralizing immune reponses in mice.

In the actual project, supported by EKFS, the results of basic research will be applied. Challenge experiments with chicken are under study, which should test the robustness of the new methods in practice. The long-term goal of the researchers is the development of a plant-based peptide vaccine against Avian Flu as a new method to fight against Avian Flu pandemias. 

Here you can get further information.
The latest press release can be found here.

Projekt partners:
Institute for Biotechnology
Building A10, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet
Hanoi, Vietnam

Fa. NAVETCO
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam