Binghamton University received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to spearhead research in developing an improved vaccine against avian influenza. The project will be led by Sha Jin, a professor of biomedical engineering.

Often referred to as the “bird flu,” avian influenza is an infection that usually spreads among birds and other animals. However, humans can also become infected with the virus via contact with contaminated poultry. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current public health risk for avian flu is low and only 71 cases have been detected in the country since 2024.

Historically, diseases originating from birds have been responsible for millions of human deaths, like the 1918 influenza pandemic, which began with a virus stemming from infected birds and killed around 50 million people. To combat future outbreaks, Jin and her research team are striving to create a yeast-based vaccine more effective than other existing vaccines.

The American Veterinary Medical Association reported that, as of November 2024, the current nationwide outbreak of the H5N1 virus has cost more than $1.4 billion.

“Yeast-based vaccines can be produced at large scale using existing bioreactors with low-cost culture media, are stable for storage and transport at room temperature, and support differentiation of vaccinated birds from naturally infected animals,” said Jin.

These factors make them more promising than traditional avian flu vaccines. Additionally, studies have found that there is no “severe side effect” when yeast-based vaccines are tested on mice, an indication these vaccines might also be safe to use on humans.

By creating various types of yeast-based vaccines, the research team plans to assess whether they will “elicit immune responses in vaccinated chickens.” Then, they will expose vaccinated birds to different kinds of live viral strains to evaluate their effectiveness. Jin and her research team will collaborate with the Pennsylvania State University for this process.

Vital to this research, Penn State has biosafety level 3+ laboratories to research “dangerous, potentially lethal airborne pathogens,” according to Jin. Penn State also has faculty who are particularly skilled and experienced in live studies with birds.

Conducting vaccination research for this virus is especially important to protect poultry flocks. Earlier this month, New York’s Department of Agriculture and Markets reported that 70 flocks statewide have tested positive for avian influenza in the past four years but added that possibly infected birds were quarantined away from public contact and posed a low threat to public health.

“Binghamton University is committed to research that is not only innovative but impactful, and Dr. Jin’s research project exemplifies that commitment,” said a University spokesperson. “Her approach, which uses readily available ingredients, offers a simpler, easier-to-manufacture, and easier-to-transport pathway to fighting the avian flu.”

Yeast-based vaccines can also be adjusted in response to new viral strains. An article co-written by Jin in the Journal of Immunology Research noted that yeast can be “rapidly engineered to express new antigen targets.”

The variability of this vaccination is crucial, as there is still potential for the avian influenza to evolve.

“It’s practical, forward-thinking research with the potential for real-world impact, and we’re excited to see where her work leads,” the spokesperson said.