This agreement aims to develop an edible insect larvae-based vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and test its safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy following vaccination…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $1.999 million Cooperative Agreement to Kansas State University on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to develop an edible insect larvae-based vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry.

The project uses CRISPR-based genome editing to express HPAI antigens within two insect species: the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). The resulting gene-edited insect larval biomass will be evaluated in challenge experiments as an edible vaccine administered directly to poultry. The work spans three objectives: creation, characterization, and quality assessment of HPAI antigen production in the engineered insect strains; assessment of vaccine safety and immunogenicity in poultry; and determination of vaccine efficacy in protecting poultry against HPAI challenge.

Kansas State University performs work in Kansas. North Carolina State University serves as sub-awardee, leading creation and characterization of the HPAI antigen-expressing insect strains. The period of performance runs from February 2, 2026, through February 1, 2029, with $1,999,946 obligated.

This agreement aims to develop an edible insect larvae-based vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and test its safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy following vaccination and challenge experiments in poultry. This project uses crispr-based genome editing tools to express key HPAI antigens within the tissues of two insect species - the red flour beetle tribolium castaneum (TCA), and the yellow mealworm tenebrio molitor (TMO). The resulting gene-edited insect larval biomass expressing the antigen will be evaluated in a challenge experiment as an edible vaccine administered directly to poultry. Therefore, this project has three objectives: 1) create, characterize, and quality-assess the production of HPAI antigens within the engineered insect strains TCA and TMO [led by sub-awardee north carolina state university (NCSU)], 2) assess the safety and immunogenicity of the insect larvae-based edible vaccine in poultry, and 3) determine the efficacy of the edible vaccine in protecting poultry against HPAI challenge.