Quantitative proteomic analysis of duck lung tissue during infection of avian influenza

Ducks and wild aquatic birds are the natural reservoirs of avian influenza viruses. However, the host proteome response that causes disease in vivo during infection by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is still not well understood. In the present study, we compared the proteome response in Muscovy duck lung tissue during 3 day of infection with either a highly virulent or an avirulent H5N1 virus. During infection, proteins involved in immune response of neutrophils and size of cells were increased markedly in the lung by the virulent strain, while the avirulent strain evoked a distinct response, characterized by an increase in proteins involved in cell movement, maturation of dendritic cells, adhesion of phagocytes, and immune response of macrophages.