A Global Academic Collaboration to Protect Poultry Health

We are pleased to highlight a significant international research collaboration between Hiroshima University / PtBio Inc. (Japan) and the BRIC-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB, India). This project aims to solve a fundamental mystery surrounding a virus that threatens poultry worldwide.

The Challenge: Chicken Anemia Virus (CAV)

The Chicken Anemia Virus (CAV) is a pathogen that causes severe anemia and immune system damage in chickens. While it poses a major risk to the poultry industry, scientists still do not fully understand how this virus manages to enter and infect chicken cells.

Our Mission: Identifying the "Viral Receptor"

The primary objective of this collaboration is to elucidate the viral receptor of CAV. To use a biological analogy, think of the virus as a key and the cell as a house with a locked door. The "receptor" is the keyhole. Currently, we don't know which keyhole (receptor) the virus uses to enter the cell. By finding this receptor, we can understand the infection mechanism and pave the way for new prevention strategies.

Partnership Details

• Collaboration: Hiroshima University and BRIC-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB, India).

• Activities: This long-term collaboration involves joint research, sharing of data and samples, and the exchange of students and researchers between Japan and India.

• Leadership: The project is led by Prof. Hiroyuki Horiuchi (Hiroshima University) and the leadership of NIAB.

This initiative represents a bridge between Japanese and Indian scientific expertise, working together to secure a healthier future for poultry production.