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The coming five years my research will focus on the role and the induction of mucosal immunity in chickens. It will address the induction of mucosal immunity using various vaccine strategies, including life vectors and the use of mucosal adjuvants. The role of mucosal immunity to protect against infectious diseases in various chicken lines will be addressed. My research will have an emphasis on avian influenza, immunosuppressive viruses and immune mechanisms pertaining to mucosal immune protection. Specific emphasis will be put on the role of cytokines, T cells, and B cells in these processes for the induction of local immunity. In addition we will focus on the role of the Harderian glands for providing immunity and acting as mucosal effector sites.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Very little is known in chicken how they generate protection to pathogens at mucosal surfaces and the different immune cells and mechanisms involved in this process. Our findings in this regards should provide a better understanding of mucosal immunity in chickens and will be highly beneficial for better designed vaccines, vectors and adjuvants for optimal induction of protective immunity mediated at the interface of host pathogen, i.e., the mucosal surface.
<P>APPROACH: These efforts should provide a better understanding of the mucosal immune system in chickens and its role in protection to avian pathogens. It will delineate the various cells involved and their functions to generate mucosal immunity and will involve assays based on RT-PCR, ELISPOT assays, PAGE gel electrophoresis, FACS analyses etc. The finding will be presented to national and international audiences and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.