Michelle Wille
@duckswabber.bsky.social
Avian influenza & avian virome ecology | "Expert in Ducks" | (she/her) | michellewille.com
How has HPAI affected population level declines? In 2023/23 resulted in drastic decrease in adult survival, a driver of dynamics in long lived seabirds. Resilience analysis revealed HPAI outbreaks couls cause long lasting demographic impacts.
π besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
π besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
February 12, 2026 at 2:19 AM
How has HPAI affected population level declines? In 2023/23 resulted in drastic decrease in adult survival, a driver of dynamics in long lived seabirds. Resilience analysis revealed HPAI outbreaks couls cause long lasting demographic impacts.
π besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
π besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
How has reassortment changed over the history of HPAI. 3t waves: fixed genotype (2000-2013), ALL the genotypes (2014-2021), regional endemicity (really?) (2022-2023). ducks, gulls, songbirds associated with reassortment hotspots.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 12, 2026 at 2:14 AM
How has reassortment changed over the history of HPAI. 3t waves: fixed genotype (2000-2013), ALL the genotypes (2014-2021), regional endemicity (really?) (2022-2023). ducks, gulls, songbirds associated with reassortment hotspots.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evaluation of 2 inactivated vaccines used in poultry. Vaxx 1 sig diff in HI titres @ 21 vs 28dapi, Vaxx 2 stronger initial HI, but no increase with time. Slight differencs for both vaccines against different H9 strains - antigenetic variations.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
February 12, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Evaluation of 2 inactivated vaccines used in poultry. Vaxx 1 sig diff in HI titres @ 21 vs 28dapi, Vaxx 2 stronger initial HI, but no increase with time. Slight differencs for both vaccines against different H9 strains - antigenetic variations.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Two H3 genotypes from wild bird markets in China, in clade containing recent human cases. Both replicated in mice, with subtle differences. differences in contact animals when using guinea pigs. H3N3 AIV posese a potential threat to public health
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 12, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Two H3 genotypes from wild bird markets in China, in clade containing recent human cases. Both replicated in mice, with subtle differences. differences in contact animals when using guinea pigs. H3N3 AIV posese a potential threat to public health
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
chicken embryo fibroblast DF-1 cell challenged with HPAI. Genes associated with itnerferon signalling + p53 pathway @ 4hr + 8hr, sustained upreg of chIRF1. chIRF1 has shared motif with mammalian IRF1, key mediator of avian antiviral immunity.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 12, 2026 at 1:59 AM
chicken embryo fibroblast DF-1 cell challenged with HPAI. Genes associated with itnerferon signalling + p53 pathway @ 4hr + 8hr, sustained upreg of chIRF1. chIRF1 has shared motif with mammalian IRF1, key mediator of avian antiviral immunity.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In Cambodia, the SARI surveillance system (and associated contact tracing) detected 12/16 H5N1 human cases. Clearly continues to be an important system.
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
February 12, 2026 at 1:43 AM
In Cambodia, the SARI surveillance system (and associated contact tracing) detected 12/16 H5N1 human cases. Clearly continues to be an important system.
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
H9N2 DIVA vaccine (Re-H9-DIVA-J2) using chimeric B/Yamagata-lineage NA. High HI titres in chickens, 90% protection against H9N2. No cross reactivity wiht N2.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 12, 2026 at 1:40 AM
H9N2 DIVA vaccine (Re-H9-DIVA-J2) using chimeric B/Yamagata-lineage NA. High HI titres in chickens, 90% protection against H9N2. No cross reactivity wiht N2.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Feb 2023, 11 year old girl died of pneumonia from H5N1 2321e. Her father was also positive. Investigations reveal both were likely infected from the same source (infected backyard poultry). No evidence for h2h transmission.
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
February 12, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Feb 2023, 11 year old girl died of pneumonia from H5N1 2321e. Her father was also positive. Investigations reveal both were likely infected from the same source (infected backyard poultry). No evidence for h2h transmission.
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Effective sterilization methods essential for safety of raw pet food products: innoculated shredded duck meat subjected to E beam irradiation - based on D10 values, need 17.63 kGy for viral inactivation.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
February 12, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Effective sterilization methods essential for safety of raw pet food products: innoculated shredded duck meat subjected to E beam irradiation - based on D10 values, need 17.63 kGy for viral inactivation.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Syrian hamsters evluated as models for emerging influenza viruses. Not suitable for pathogenicity studies as H5N1 didnt cause severe disease. But, good for evaluating transmission of viruses that bind Ξ±2,6 as consistent with prev studies.
π www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
π www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Syrian hamsters evluated as models for emerging influenza viruses. Not suitable for pathogenicity studies as H5N1 didnt cause severe disease. But, good for evaluating transmission of viruses that bind Ξ±2,6 as consistent with prev studies.
π www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
π www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
How do we protect wildlife from HPAI? Here, King Penguins vaxxed w self-amplifying mRNA 2344b H5 vaccine. Chicks followed for 250 days - good immune responses, no adverse effects. Good to see trials like this, protect species of conservation concern.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 12, 2026 at 1:06 AM
How do we protect wildlife from HPAI? Here, King Penguins vaxxed w self-amplifying mRNA 2344b H5 vaccine. Chicks followed for 250 days - good immune responses, no adverse effects. Good to see trials like this, protect species of conservation concern.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
chimpanzee adenoviral (ChAd)-vectored H5 HA-targeted vaccines. In mice = protection against infection and mortality, mucosial antibody + T cell responses. In hamsters = prevent weight loss.
π www.cell.com/cell-reports...
π www.cell.com/cell-reports...
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 AM
chimpanzee adenoviral (ChAd)-vectored H5 HA-targeted vaccines. In mice = protection against infection and mortality, mucosial antibody + T cell responses. In hamsters = prevent weight loss.
π www.cell.com/cell-reports...
π www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Evaluation of airbourne virus transmission and shedding of B3.13 + D1.1 in ferrets: No H5N1 strains transmissed via air, but B3.13 at higher levels. Overall, stron correlation bw viral loads in nasal washes, airborne virus shedding, and transmissibility.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 12, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Evaluation of airbourne virus transmission and shedding of B3.13 + D1.1 in ferrets: No H5N1 strains transmissed via air, but B3.13 at higher levels. Overall, stron correlation bw viral loads in nasal washes, airborne virus shedding, and transmissibility.
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
π www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fatal human case, 2344b H5N6, Anhui province, China. Oseltemivir rapidly decreased virus titres in lungs and pharaynx during treatment. Link to poultry unclear, but mobile stalls near the residence of the patient where poultry was slaughtered.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 12, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Fatal human case, 2344b H5N6, Anhui province, China. Oseltemivir rapidly decreased virus titres in lungs and pharaynx during treatment. Link to poultry unclear, but mobile stalls near the residence of the patient where poultry was slaughtered.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
8-mo-old cat with a history of severe illness after consuming raw milk sold commercially. cat euthanised. Lesions and virus found (via IHC) across many organs. This milk was eventually recalled.
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM
8-mo-old cat with a history of severe illness after consuming raw milk sold commercially. cat euthanised. Lesions and virus found (via IHC) across many organs. This milk was eventually recalled.
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
US retail milk monitoring April-May 2024 - 36% prods positive, 5 states where no outbreak reported. Dec 2024βJan 2025 only 6.9% prods positive, all of whiich were from california (site of ongoing outbreak). Positive trend.
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
February 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
US retail milk monitoring April-May 2024 - 36% prods positive, 5 states where no outbreak reported. Dec 2024βJan 2025 only 6.9% prods positive, all of whiich were from california (site of ongoing outbreak). Positive trend.
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
π wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
In H5N1 naive humans, there is low but distinct cross-neutralizing titers against A/Texas/37/2024. Characterising B cells - identified neutrilizing antibodies, cross neutrilised H1.
π www.cell.com/immunity/ful...?
π www.cell.com/immunity/ful...?
February 12, 2026 at 12:44 AM
In H5N1 naive humans, there is low but distinct cross-neutralizing titers against A/Texas/37/2024. Characterising B cells - identified neutrilizing antibodies, cross neutrilised H1.
π www.cell.com/immunity/ful...?
π www.cell.com/immunity/ful...?
Pasteurisation works on HPAI, but how to manage raw milk which is used for cheese, yogurt etc? Here, low pH combined with longer incubation time (24 h) is sufficient to inactivate LPAIV. Individual acid did not have an effect.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 10, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Pasteurisation works on HPAI, but how to manage raw milk which is used for cheese, yogurt etc? Here, low pH combined with longer incubation time (24 h) is sufficient to inactivate LPAIV. Individual acid did not have an effect.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
HA-based mRNAβlipid nanoparticle vaccine for lactating cattle: no adverse effects, no effect on milk production. strong antibody responses, after 2 doses cattle protected against HPAI challenge.
π spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
π spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
February 10, 2026 at 11:47 PM
HA-based mRNAβlipid nanoparticle vaccine for lactating cattle: no adverse effects, no effect on milk production. strong antibody responses, after 2 doses cattle protected against HPAI challenge.
π spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
π spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
HPAI in USA cattle: domestic economic losses between 0.06% - 0.9% of US GDP, with losses to the dairy sector between 3.4% - 20.6%. current government subsidies are ~ 1.2% (95% HDI: 1% to 1.4%) of output losses. Huge economic implications.
π www.nature.com/articles/s43...
π www.nature.com/articles/s43...
February 10, 2026 at 11:45 PM
HPAI in USA cattle: domestic economic losses between 0.06% - 0.9% of US GDP, with losses to the dairy sector between 3.4% - 20.6%. current government subsidies are ~ 1.2% (95% HDI: 1% to 1.4%) of output losses. Huge economic implications.
π www.nature.com/articles/s43...
π www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Detection of H4N6 in a commercial duck farm in Iran. Virus in Eurasian lineage, related to. viruses sequenced in russia.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
February 10, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Detection of H4N6 in a commercial duck farm in Iran. Virus in Eurasian lineage, related to. viruses sequenced in russia.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Detection of 4 H1N1 LPAI from Common teal and spot-billed ducks, 2019β21, China. Viruses similar to those from EAAF, to wild bird and poultry viruses.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 10, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Detection of 4 H1N1 LPAI from Common teal and spot-billed ducks, 2019β21, China. Viruses similar to those from EAAF, to wild bird and poultry viruses.
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
π www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Integration of tracking data (62 species, 4000 individuals), generated co-occurance dataset. identification of hotspots for migratory bird - pathogenic evolution.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
February 10, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Integration of tracking data (62 species, 4000 individuals), generated co-occurance dataset. identification of hotspots for migratory bird - pathogenic evolution.
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
π link.springer.com/article/10.1...
In Spain, 2021-22. 4 reassortants of HPAI, multiple bird introductions from other European countries. Andalusia hotspot for maintenance.
π academic.oup.com/ve/advance-a...
π academic.oup.com/ve/advance-a...
February 10, 2026 at 10:25 PM
In Spain, 2021-22. 4 reassortants of HPAI, multiple bird introductions from other European countries. Andalusia hotspot for maintenance.
π academic.oup.com/ve/advance-a...
π academic.oup.com/ve/advance-a...
HPAI in Aplacas in the USA. Backyard poultry farm, with HPAI in chickens detected 5 days before detection in alpacas. 4 abortions in alpacas, HPAI isolated from one of the fetal tissues.
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
February 10, 2026 at 10:22 PM
HPAI in Aplacas in the USA. Backyard poultry farm, with HPAI in chickens detected 5 days before detection in alpacas. 4 abortions in alpacas, HPAI isolated from one of the fetal tissues.
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
π journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....