Fighting bird flu with RNAi

Scientists at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong have launched a potentially revolutionary research project aimed at reducing the threat of the lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus. Dr John Lowenthal's AAHL research team will explore two different ways of protecting the US$300 billion global poultry industry against influenza - one therapeutic, the other prophylactic. Both will exploit the natural cellular anti-viral mechanism, RNA interference (RNAi). The therapeutic option would involve delivering small RNA molecules to chickens in their drinking water or via an aerosol spray, priming the birds' own natural RNAi defences to recognise and destroy the virus. The prophylactic option is to insert custom-designed RNAi transgenes into poultry, to protect birds against influenza. If successful this would confer protection against all current and future strains of influenza, including the deadly H5N1 strain that health authorities fear could spawn the first, disastrous human pandemic of the 21st century. Lowenthal says if either approach works, it would still need to be examined by the federal Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, and subjected to public scrutiny, before it could be released. The project will take at least three years to establish whether the technology can be used to protect chickens from avian influenza under laboratory conditions (proof-of-concept), and then up to two years more to determine whether the approach is practicable. Advanced Technology Services Australia (ATSA), an Australian subsidiary of one of the world's leading poultry breeding companies, is backing the five-year pilot project. Lowenthal's team hopes to achieve proof-of-concept within three years. Source:"www.biotechnews.com"[ http://www.biotechnews.com.au/index.php/id;1618974329;fp;16;fpid;1]

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