Strategic Preclinical Research Service for Fowlpox Virus Therapeutic & Diagnostic Solution

Overview

The Fowlpox virus (FPV) represents a large double-stranded DNA virus that falls under the Avipoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. Avian species serve as the main host for this virus, which particularly affects chickens and turkeys, along with other domestic and wild bird populations. Fowlpox virus causes fowlpox, a slow-spreading disease that exists in two clinical forms. Fowlpox manifests in two clinical forms, which include the dry cutaneous type and the moist diphtheritic type. Wart-like skin lesions appear on the comb, wattles, and beak when birds show symptoms of the cutaneous form of fowlpox. The diphtheritic form attacks the mucous membranes located in the mouth, throat, and upper respiratory tract, which frequently results in respiratory distress and greater mortality rates. FPV spreads through mosquito vectors and direct interaction with infected birds or contaminated tools. While the virus spreads at a slow rate, outbreaks still cause substantial financial damage to poultry production because of lower egg production rates and growth delays, in addition to secondary infections. Creative Biolabs offers extensive preclinical research services that specialize in Fowlpox virus. We provide laboratory virus isolation and genetic analysis capabilities as well as animal model-based pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy testing. We support the development of vaccines along with antiviral screening and immune response evaluation because biosafety and scientific rigor represent our core priorities. Our team of expert scientists generates top-quality data that matches your research objectives and speeds up your product development process.

Figure 1. Fowlpox Virus (FPV) lesions in a chicken.¹

Accelerated Fowlpox Virus Preclinical Research Services

• For Therapeutics Development

In Vitro Antiviral Efficacy Assays

• Cytotoxicity Assays: To determine if the therapeutic candidate has any toxic effects on normal (non-infected) cells (e.g., MTT, MTS, or LDH release assays).
• Viral Replication Assays: To assess whether the candidate can inhibit viral replication by measuring viral titers, plaque assays, or quantitative PCR to quantify viral genomes in the infected culture.
• Viral Entry/Binding Assays: To measure whether the therapeutic impacts the ability of FPV to bind or enter host cells (e.g., flow cytometry or immunofluorescence).
• Neutralization Assays: To test if the therapeutic agent can neutralize FPV infectivity, often using serum from treated animals or cell culture supernatants.
• Gene Expression Assays: Assessing how the therapeutic candidate affects the expression of FPV-specific genes (via RT-qPCR or Western blot analysis).

In Vivo Efficacy Studies (Animal Models)

• Acute and Chronic Infection Models: Establishing FPV infections in animals to assess the therapeutic’s ability to reduce viral load and associated disease progression.
• Dosing and Pharmacokinetics Studies: Determining optimal dosing regimens and studying the pharmacokinetic profile of the therapeutic (e.g., half-life, tissue distribution, clearance).
• Immune Response Evaluation: Assessing how the therapeutic modulates the immune response to FPV infection, including cytokine production and immune cell activation (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA).
• Survival Studies: Evaluating whether the therapy improves survival rates in infected animals, often through monitoring overall health, body weight, and clinical signs.
• Tissue Distribution and Toxicology Studies: Studying the distribution of the therapeutic in different tissues, as well as assessing potential toxic effects on critical organs (e.g., liver, kidneys, lungs).

• For Diagnostics Development

Antigen Detection Assays

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Used for tissue samples to visualize viral antigens directly in the infected tissue. This method involves the use of antibodies that bind to FPV proteins, followed by a chromogenic or fluorescent marker.
• Lateral Flow Assays: A rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tool that detects viral antigens. This method is like a pregnancy test and is useful for quick screening in field settings.

Nucleic Acid Detection Assays

• Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR): This is used if FPV carries RNA components. It converts RNA to complementary DNA (cDNA) before PCR amplification and quantification.
• Nested PCR: Provides higher sensitivity by using two sets of primers in two stages of amplification. This method is especially useful when viral DNA is present in low amounts.
• Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): A rapid, sensitive DNA amplification technique that works under isothermal conditions, making it suitable for use in resource-limited settings without the need for complex equipment.
• Southern Blotting: Used to confirm the presence of FPV DNA in infected samples, particularly for detecting integrated viral genomes or studying viral replication.

Antibody Detection Assays (Serology)

• Western Blotting: This technique is used to detect specific antibodies that recognize FPV proteins in infected animal serum.
• Neutralization Assays: These assays measure the ability of antibodies in serum to neutralize the infectivity of FPV in cell cultures.
• Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA): Like antigen detection, IFA can be used to detect antibodies bound to FPV-infected cells.
• Microneutralization Test: This is another neutralization assay, but performed in a microplate format. It is used for more precise quantification of neutralizing antibodies against FPV.

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Products for Fowlpox Virus Research

Scientists create FPV recombinant proteins through genetic engineering methods. Scientists use these proteins in developing vaccines and diagnostic tests as well as conducting immunological research. Researchers can perform experiments safely because they do not need to work with live viruses. FPV proteins of high purity enable dependable applications that are precisely directed.

• Recombinant fowlpox virus proteins or antigens

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Applications

1. Vaccine Development: The live attenuated FPV vaccine serves as the standard preventive measure to protect poultry from fowlpox infection. The vaccine generates robust immunity with enduring protection for birds.

2. Recombinant Vaccine Vector: FPV serves as a viral vector for delivering foreign genes because of its large genome and safety profile. The virus was modified to produce antigens from various pathogens, like avian influenza and Newcastle disease, to develop multivalent vaccines.

3. Immunological Research: FPV helps researchers investigate avian immune responses and virus-host interactions, which enhances knowledge about poxvirus biology and immune defense mechanisms.

4. Gene Delivery System: FPV vectors demonstrate potential for gene therapy and cancer immunotherapy in experimental models because they can deliver genes to host cells while maintaining low mammalian pathogenicity.

Advantages

1. Comprehensive Expertise: The team possesses extensive background knowledge spanning virology and both molecular biology and immunology.

2. Customizable Solutions: Study designs are specifically developed to achieve project objectives and comply with regulatory standards.

3. Advanced Facilities: Our facilities offer BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories along with in vitro and in vivo experimental setups and state-of-the-art analytical equipment.

4. High-Quality Data: Validated assays and rigorous protocols together produce results that are both reliable and reproducible.

5. Fast Turnaround: Antiviral screening and vaccine testing timelines become faster through the implementation of efficient workflows alongside diagnostics.

6. Regulatory Support: Preclinical study designs meet requirements set by major global regulatory agencies such as the FDA and EMA.

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