Workpackage 1

WP1 Impact of HPAI vaccination on host-pathogen interactions

Summary of WP1 Objectives and Tasks

WP1 aims to study the impact of avian influenza virus (AIV) vaccination on virus evolution, focusing on HPAIV H5Nx and LPAIV H9N2 strains. It investigates immune responses, antigenic evolution, and vaccine efficacy using an interdisciplinary approach.

Tasks Overview:

Antigenic Evolution and Pandemic Potential of H5N (Task 1.1):

The objective is to characterize H5 viruses globally using antigenic mapping and assess the impact of vaccination on antigenic drift. The candidate will collaborate with other partners from the consortium (EMC, INRAE, CEVA) to study immune pressure, humoral responses, and zoonotic potential.

Escape Mutants in H9 and H5 Due to Vaccination (Task 1.2):

The objective is to assess the impact of pre-existing immunity on viral evolution, with a focus on Egyptian (and Moroccan ) H5N1 and H9N2 viruses as models for vaccine-induced evolution.

The candidate will conduct fieldwork, antigenic mapping, and assess molecular kits for detecting variants.

Evaluation of Immune Responses to Vaccines (Task 1.3):

The objective is to study humoral and cellular immune responses to H5 and H9 vaccines, including heterologous strains, with a focus on correlates of protection. The candidate will  collaborate with UNISI, CEVA, IZSVe, and VisMederi.

Efficacy of Commercial Vaccines (Task 1.4):

The objective is to assess commercial vaccines’ efficacy and cross-reactivity against evolving H5 and H9 strains in Egypt. The candidate will examine factors influencing immune response quality, such as antigenic match and vaccine composition.

Key Collaborations:

The tasks involve close cooperation with multiple partners (EMC, NRC, CEVA, IAV, UNISI) for antigenic mapping, fieldwork, and vaccine evaluation to inform effective vaccination strategies.