The purpose of this proposal is to create a new line of chickens that are genetically equipped with several independent antiviral barriers, yielding durable, 'escape-proof' resistance to avian…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $1,786,866 to A-New Bio Inc. on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

A-New Bio Inc. will engineer and cryopreserve single, double, and triple-edited chicken embryonic stem-cell (CHESC) lines targeting three proven avian influenza virus host-dependency factors—ANP32A, SLC35A1, and duck MX1—while screening additional candidates to develop durable, multi-genic resistance to avian influenza. The recipient will challenge edited CHESC lines with diverse AIV strains, map viral escape routes through serial-passage assays, mine a 700-gene CRISPR screen and literature to nominate and evaluate supplementary host-factor targets, and generate prototype mono- and multigenic chickens ready for field evaluation. Key deliverables include a bank of validated, germline-competent CHESC clones; standard operating procedures and publicly accessible datasets on resistance durability and viral adaptation; peer-reviewed publications and outreach materials; and prototype chickens for scaled evaluation.

The USC Ying Laboratory will serve as a sub-recipient, validating each clone, generating chimeric founders, breeding germline-transmitting birds, and providing primary tissue explants for ex vivo resistance testing by A-New Bio Inc.

Performance occurs in Torrance, California. The period of performance extends through February 1, 2029.

The purpose of this proposal is to create a new line of chickens that are genetically equipped with several independent antiviral barriers, yielding durable, 'escape-proof' resistance to avian influenza virus (AIV). By combining cutting-edge, germline-competent chicken embryonic stem-cell (chesc) technology with precise genome editing, the project targets three proven host-dependency factors-ANP32A, SLC35A1, and duck MX1-while continuously screening additional candidates to build the most robust, multigenic defense yet achieved against influenza viruses. To meet this goal, a-new BIO INC. (ANB) will engineer and cryopreserve single, double, and triple-edited chesc lines, challenge them with a panel of diverse AIV strains, and map viral escape routes through serial-passage assays. The USC ying laboratory, our subcontracted partner, will validate each clone, generate chimeric founders, breed germline-transmitting birds, and provide primary tissue explants for EX-vivo resistance testing by ANB. In parallel, ANB will mine a 700-gene crispr screen and emerging literature to nominate, edit, and evaluate additional host-factor targets, ensuring rapid alternative or improved targets are available if any lead edit proves detrimental to productivity. Key deliverables include (i) a bank of fully validated, germline-competent chesc clones; (II) standard operating procedures and publicly accessible datasets on resistance durability and viral adaptation; (III) peer-reviewed publications and outreach materials; and (IV) prototype mono- and multigenic chickens ready for scaled field evaluation. The anticipated outcome is a practical, commercially viable blueprint for breeding flocks that remain protected even as influenza viruses evolve, thereby lowering outbreak frequency, safeguarding the national food supply, and reducing economic losses across the poultry sector. Primary beneficiaries extend beyond the awardees to U.S. Poultry producers, rural communities, consumers, animal-health regulators, and global partners seeking sustainable hpai solutions. The USC ying lab's subcontracted activities-stem-cell derivation, chimera production, and live-bird generation- are integral to the award's success, directly transforming edited cell lines into resilient, next-generation poultry.