A recently completed research project funded by The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the USPOULTRY Foundation has revealed the mystery behind an important poultry vaccine.

The research project, part of USPOULTRY’s comprehensive research program, was completed by Dr. Brian Jordan and Dr. Mark Jackwood in the Department of Population Health & Poultry Science at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

The project studied the complex makeup of a very commonly used poultry vaccine, the Arkansas infectious bronchitis vaccine, which has not always been considered highly efficacious. Researchers found that the vaccine contains viral subpopulations that vary slightly genetically, and that these slight variations account for the varied response that may be seen with the vaccine.

This understanding provides the basis for development of an improved vaccine, and will be useful information for researchers looking to the future of vaccine research.

A detailed summary of the report may be found here.