Applying conserved peptides of NS1 Protein of avian influenza virus to differentiate infected from vaccinated chickens

Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious disease in poultry and outbreaks can have dramatic economic and health implications. For effective disease surveillance, rapid and sensitive assays are needed to detect antibodies against AI virus (AIV) proteins. In order to support eradication efforts of avian influenza (AI) infections in poultry, the implementation of “DIVA” vaccination strategies, enabling the Differentiation of infected from Vaccinated Animals have been recommended by international organizations. A system, based on the detection of antibodies to the Non-Structural (NS1) protein of AI has been proposed to enable the detection of field exposure in vaccinated flocks, and through this detection, infected flocks may be properly managed. In this project we have used two conserved peptides of NS1 protein to develop a peptide based ELISA method. This ELISA could screen the infected and vaccinated sera due to their titer of antibody. Following experimentally infection and vaccinate of chickens, antibodies to the peptides of the NS1 protein were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). These findings indicate that there is a significant difference in the viral replication in chickens, resulting in a variation in the production of antibodies to NS1, as detected by the peptide- based ELISA used. These results demonstrate the specific ELISA for anti NS1 antibodies that have diagnostic value for the poultry industries.