Since 2020, a new strain of ‘bird flu’ has been killing large numbers of wild birds, poultry, and even mammals like minks. Alarmingly, it has now spread to dairy cows in the U.S., affecting milk production and raising concerns about a potential jump to humans. Understanding how this virus is spreading to new species is urgent. Bird flu originates in birds (primary hosts) but can sometimes jump to humans, often through an intermediate host like minks or cows. To make this leap, the virus must bypass the immune defences of each host. The immune environments of the host species may shape the virus’s ability to infect humans and evade immunity, yet our knowledge of immune defences in other species is limited. This project aims to fill this gap by evaluating innate immune responses (the initial response to a new virus) in chickens (primary hosts), and ferrets (99% like minks, intermediate hosts) and cows (intermediate hosts) following bird flu infection. Insights from this work will inform pandemic risk assessments and contribute to novel antiviral strategies for intermediate hosts like dairy cows, a key sector in Australia’s agricultural industry. This research can assist in preventing spillover into humans and livestock losses, and has practical applications for veterinary, farming, and biosecurity stakeholders. Findings will support future translational projects in collaboration with industry partners, ensuring biosecurity and economic resilience for Australia.
Public Health
