Evaluate the antiviral therapeutic potential of tannins against highly pathogenic avian influenza hpai as natural antiviral supplements and immunomodulators in poultry

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $1.716 million Cooperative Agreement to the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. on February 2, 2026, to evaluate the antiviral therapeutic potential of tannins against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The recipient will conduct four primary research activities: evaluating antiviral effects of tannins against HPAI in vitro to determine mechanism of action; assessing immune modulation effects of tannins in chicken macrophage cells and chicken mesenchymal stem cells under HPAI infection; optimizing tannin inclusion levels for efficient growth and immune protection in laying hens and turkeys; and evaluating antiviral effects through HPAI virus challenge studies with laying hens and turkeys in BSL-3 facilities. Deliverables include data on anti-HPAI effects and mechanisms of tannins, immunoprotection effects, optimized tannin inclusion rates, HPAI challenge study results, performance and mortality data, and peer-reviewed publications. The research addresses tannins—plant-derived polyphenolic compounds with demonstrated antiviral activity against multiple pathogens including influenza strains H3N2 and H5N3, herpes simplex virus, Newcastle disease virus, and adenoviruses—as natural supplements and immunomodulators to prevent poultry HPAI infection and strengthen poultry immune systems while maintaining sustainable production and U.S. food security.

Performance takes place in Georgia. The period of performance runs through February 1, 2029.

Tannins, plant-derived polyphenolic compounds and their metabolites, have highly effective antiviral effects against broad spectrums of pathogenic viruses including influenza virus H3N2, H5N3, herpes simplex VIRUS1, newcastle disease virus and ADENOVIRUS1-5. Thus, the proposed studies will develop effective therapeutic strategies with natural antiviral bioactive compounds to prevent poultry from hpai infection and strengthen poultry immune system, maintaining sustainable poultry production and U.S. Food security. Activities include 1) evaluating antiviral effects of tannins against hpai in vitro to elucidate the antihpai mechanisms (mode of action) of tannins; 2) evaluating effects of tannins on immune modulation in chicken macrophage cells and/or chicken mesenchymal stem cells under hpai infection conditions; 3) optimizing tannin inclusion level for the efficient growth and immunoprotecting potential in laying hens and turkeys; 4) evaluating antihpai effects of tannins in hpai virus challenge studies with laying hens and turkeys (BSL-3). Deliverables are obtaining data on anti-hpai effects of tannins, their antiviral mechanisms, immunoprotected effects of tannins, optimization of tannin inclusion, hpai challenge data, performance, mortality, and publications. Primary beneficiaries are poultry industry, poultry EGG producers, poultry farms, feed manufacturers, poultry nutritionists, poultry veterinarians, large grocery stores, and consumers. This research will provide a novel strategy to prevent poultry from hpai and contribute sustainable EGG supply and U.S. Agricultural economy. Further activities will be in vitro anti-viral effects of tannins against hpai (H5N1) virus and hpai virus infection studies with laying hens and ducks in BSL-3 facility by DR. Daniel perez, an expert in H5N1 hpai infection and transmission in the center for vaccines and immunology, department of population health, poultry diagnostic and research center, university of georgia.