Gene-Edited Chicken Cells Resist Avian Influenza Virus in the Lab
Retrieved on:
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
To inhibit the avian influenza virus from replicating, the research team used gene-editing techniques to delete a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells.
Key Points:
- To inhibit the avian influenza virus from replicating, the research team used gene-editing techniques to delete a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells.
- Researchers targeted a specific molecule inside chicken cells called ANP32A, which the influenza virus takes over to help replicate itself.
- After removing the section of DNA responsible for producing ANP32A, the virus was no longer able to grow inside cells with the genetic change.
- Avian influenza is a global threat to poultry production, accounting for the loss of millions of chickens when an outbreak occurs.