Studying genetic sequences for anti-viral biocontrol in food production animals
Dr Sudip Dhakal
Emerging infectious viruses cause significant loss in our livestock and aquaculture industries.
Viruses can rapidly evolve into new strains which can mean that current anti-viral treatments no longer work.
This makes it important to find new anti-viral treatments to help protect our food production species.
This project is part B of a larger research project which encompasses subproject A: ‘Arming food production animals with a novel anti-viral defence’ and subproject C: ‘Developing models to guide selection of genetic sequences with anti-viral properties’.
In this component of the project, I will be studying methods to edit genomes of chicken and fish to identify potential genetic anti-viral mechanisms.
Once identified, these mechanisms will be tested against the viruses in chicken and fish cells, to study if they truly convey immune resilience.
In the longer term, this proof-of-concept study could be adapted for other RNA viruses that pose similar threats to our agriculture species.
Project Lead: Dr Sudip Dhakal