Description
Production of knockout bird models in a Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) context to study disease resistance.Abstract:
A highly efficient and bio-secure pipeline for the production of genetically altered chickens in a Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) context has recently been developed at the National Avian Research Facility (NARF). This process uses advanced strategies and tools developed in the McGrew lab, including gene editing of avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) and injection of edited PGCs into iCaspase9 sterile surrogate embryos, to create novel knockout bird models of known health status. Being unvaccinated and certified free of up to 20 specified pathogens, these knockout birds are particularly suitable for studying immune response to pathogens. Using this bio-secure pipeline we have already created two distinct IL10 knockout bird models to study the implication of the IL10 locus in the control of gastrointestinal pathology during Eimeria infection. We are also in the process of creating knockout bird models to study the role of the avian Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in disease resistance and susceptibility in chickens. The challenges associated with the production of genetically altered birds in a SPF context, and the results obtained so far with the IL10 knockout birds, will be discussed.
| Period | 8 Mar 2022 → 10 Mar 2022 |
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| Held at | The Roslin Institute |