Develop a novel lactococcal-phage vaccine to protect poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $810,568 to the Regents of the University of Minnesota on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The award funds development and efficacy assessment of a novel lactococcal-phage vaccine to protect poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4B. The vaccine will express hemagglutinin and M2E viral antigens displayed on the surface of a modified P2 lactococcal phage as virus-like particles, delivered to the gastrointestinal tract to stimulate mucosal and systemic immunity. The phage will also infect Lactococcus lactis, a probiotic bacterium in poultry guts, to express antigens and stimulate T-helper 1 response. The recipient will conduct efficacy testing at the University of Minnesota's ABSL3 facility under an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol, inoculating chickens and turkeys to assess immunogenicity and protection against live H5N1 challenge. Deliverables include the protective vaccine candidate and experimental data published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at the annual American Society of Virology conference.

Work is performed in Minnesota. The period of performance runs from February 2, 2026, through February 1, 2029. No sub-awardees are identified; the recipient notes collaboration with Greater San Diego Biological Solutions.

HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4B has currently posed a significant threat to poultry. Following activities will be performed in this proposal: 1) development of a novel lactococcal phage-based vaccine, which will express the hemagglutinin (HA) and M2E of the H5N1 virus. The viral antigens will be displayed on the surface of a modified P2 lactococcal phage as virus-like particles (VLPS) for high stability and immunogenicity when delivered to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to stimulate mucosal immunity and induce siga as well as systemic IGY antibodies. The phage in the GI tract can also infect lactococcus lactis (L. Lactis), a probiotic bacterium residing in poultry guts, for intrinsic HA1-M2E antigen expression to stimulate a TH1 response; 2) efficacy assessment of this vaccine for its protection against the H5N1 HPAI in poultry with our iacuc protocol to work at the ABSL3 facility, university of minnesota. Chickens and turkeys will be tested with the inoculation of the vaccines for their immunogenicity and protection against the live H5N1 challenge. The deliverables of this project will include this lactococcal phage vaccine that is protective in poultry from HPAI infection and relevant experimental data and analyses reported at the annual ASV conference and published in peer-reviewed journals. Expected outcomes include the attention to and interest in this novel vaccine for its efficacy and cost/effect ratio, and easiness to inoculate birds, etc among our stakeholders in the poultry industry and policymakers in state capitol and washington D.C., and our colleagues in academia for knowledge exchange. The intended beneficiaries are the owners, investors, and workers of commercial poultry and backyard flocks. We do not have sub-awardees for this proposal. However, we are collaborating with greater SAN diego biological solutions (GSD BIO), a california non-profit 401(C) public benefits corporation on this project. The vaccine will be distributed to stakeholders nationwide for no profitability, after its development and assessment is completed with expected outcomes if this proposal is awarded by the USDA-aphis award.