Strengthening Poultry Health Through Vaccine Innovation: An IVVN Member Story
As the global veterinary vaccinology community works to tackle emerging disease threats and strengthen food security, early career researchers like Muttahir Aman are playing a vital role in shaping the future of animal health. Based in Kashmir, India, Muttahir is currently pursuing a PhD in Vaccine Biotechnology at the University of Kashmir, in collaboration with SKUAST-Kashmir, where he is focused on the development of novel vaccines to protect poultry against two major viral diseases: avian influenza and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).
Muttahir is part of an ICMR-funded project at the Vaccine Biotechnology Lab, where his research sits at the intersection of vaccinology, molecular virology, and immunoinformatics. Guided by his supervisor, he is working to design next-generation vaccines that are not only scientifically innovative but also scalable and suited to field conditions in resource-limited settings.
His work centres on two core areas. The first involves the design and evaluation of multiepitope vector-based vaccines targeting the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza. By identifying conserved immunogenic epitopes and integrating them into viral vector platforms, Muttahir aims to trigger robust, targeted immune responses in poultry. The second strand builds on the lab’s earlier work to develop a recombination-resistant live attenuated vaccine for IBV - addressing one of the key safety concerns associated with traditional live vaccines.
In the lab, Muttahir engages in a range of techniques spanning molecular cloning, cell culture, virus propagation, molecular assays, and in silico epitope mapping. His goal is to deliver vaccine candidates that can improve poultry health, reduce zoonotic risk, and safeguard rural livelihoods - particularly in regions where poultry remains a cornerstone of food security and economic resilience.
Reflecting on his journey so far, Muttahir highlights the importance of collaborative networks in advancing his work. “I’m excited to contribute to global vaccinology efforts,” he says, “and grateful to platforms like IVVN for supporting researchers like me - especially those working in underrepresented regions.”
For those interested in learning more about the lab’s work, you can explore some of their publications here:
1. Understanding the pandemic potential of the avian influenza Virus- key insights into pathogenesis, transmission, and host immunity.
2. Molecular and ecological determinants of mammalian adaptability in avian influenza virus.
➡️ If you’re an IVVN member with a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at ivvn [at] roslin [dot] ed [dot] ac [dot] uk.