Infection and innate immunity in monogastric livestock

Research

Avian-origin influenza viruses pose a permanent threat to animal and public health and to poultry industries worldwide. Research in our laboratory addresses various aspects of the interplay of avian influenza viruses with the chicken host.
On the one hand, we are exploring the significance of certain host-specific viral adaptations and the functional roles of virus-encoded virulence factors, with a particular focus on the activities of the non-structural protein NS1.
On the other hand, we are aiming to determine the innate immune response pattern in distinct target cells (i.e. chicken lung epithelialcells and endothelial cells) and to elucidate the roles of these cells in the pathobiology of avian influenza virus infections in galliform birds.
Further emphasis is put on deciphering the impact of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses on the outcome of avian pathogenic  Escherichia coli (APEC) co-infections in the chicken host, and to explore the correlates between animal genetics, age-dependent immunocompetence and disease susceptibility or resistance in divergently selected chicken lines.

Publications

Pubmed since 2012

Team

Scientific staff:
Caballero-Posadas Ignacio
Fleurot Isabelle
Guabiraba Rodrigo
Marc Daniel
Roesch Ferdinand
Trapp Sascha

Assistant engineers:
Guillory Vanaïque
Kut Emmanuel

PhD students:
Chkhaydem Elaa
Leroy Aurélien