U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has posted the results of two research projections as part of its research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

Project No. 637, Attempt to Find Genetic Biomarkers to Identify the Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Capable of Infecting Humans, aims to determine if DNA cell invasion assays could indentify biomarkers in humans not found in poultry. Although considerable variation was noted, results suggest that comparative DNA analyses were able to identify biomarkers associated with infection with Campylobacter. However, some commonly used subtype analyses cannot be used to predict infection in humans. Two genes were found that may serve as biomarkers to identify Campylobacter isolates involved in human illness. Additionally, a gene was identified that was used to develop a fusion vaccine against Campylobacter.

Project No. 655 is Evaluation of Experimental R11/3 Virus Vaccines for Control of Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis in Broiler Chickens. The objective of this study was to develop a recombinant DNA vaccine based on the RII/3 virus VP2 protein. The VP2 (rVP2) protein gene was cloned and expressed in a bacterial vector. Chicks were virus challenged at 2 and 15 days of age by intramuscular injections. The rVP2 protein vaccine failed to provide protective immunity, although antisera contained high levels of the RII/3 virus specific antibody. Therefore, although the recombinant VP2 protein was immunogenic, it failed to provide immunity for prevention of TVP. Findings indicate that an effective TVP vaccine will likely require construction with a vector such as the fowlpox virus or herpes virus of turkeys.

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