Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 48-57.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0956

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Strategies for Avian Influenza Mucosal Vaccine Development: Insights from the Avian Mucosal Immune System

ZHU Mei-wei1,2, ZHANG Jian-feng1, WANG Jia-min1, LIAO Ming1,2(), DU Shou-wen1,2()   

  1. 1.Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention; Key Laboratory for prevention and control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640
    2.College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Received:2025-09-08 Online:2026-07-26 Published:2026-07-20
  • Contact: LIAO Ming, DU Shou-wen E-mail:mliao@scau.edu.cn;dushouwen@gdaas.cn

Abstract:

The features of the avian mucosal immune system include diffuse lymphoid tissues, humoral immunity mediated by immunoglobulin Y (IgY), innate immune signaling pathways dependent on chicken melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), as well as a common homing and mucosal immune system. Currently, traditional inactivated vaccines are ineffective in blocking mucosal infection by avian influenza virus (AIV). In contrast, mucosal vaccines demonstrate significant advantages by eliciting local mucosal immunity. Studies have shown that live vaccines based on reverse genetics-optimized rClone30 vectors can induce antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and AIV exceeding the protective threshold of 4 log2 by day 7 post-immunization, with both antibody persistence and the intensity of cellular immune responses surpassing those of commercial inactivated vaccines. Furthermore, various technological platforms—including cold-adapted attenuated live vaccines, recombinant lactobacillus vaccines, combined strategies of mucosal DNA vaccines and inactivated vaccines, and chitosan nanoparticle-delivered mRNA vaccines—can all induce high levels of specific antibodies and mucosal sIgA, and effectively activate CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses. In challenge experiments, these immune responses reduced the positive rate of oropharyngeal swab virus detection from 100% to 50%, achieved 100% protection, and significantly decreased viral shedding and lung lesions. This article reviews the organization and functional mechanisms of the avian mucosal immune system, with a focus on respiratory mucosal immunity, and analyzes the current progress, application status, and challenges in the development of avian influenza mucosal vaccines. The key to future prevention and control lies in deepening the understanding of mucosal immune mechanisms and optimizing vaccine design and delivery to promote the clinical translation of highly effective and broad-spectrum mucosal vaccines.

Key words: avian mucosal immune, chicken respiratory system, avian influenza virus, mucosal vaccine