Generation of transgenic birds with replication-deficient lentiviruses

Birds are of great interest as an animal model in biological research and for commercial applications as a bioreactor. Effective methods for manipulating the avian genome would accelerate progress in fields such as developmental biology and behavioral neurobiology, which traditionally have relied on birds as model systems for biological research. Here we describe a simple and effective protocol for producing transgenic birds using lentiviral vectors that can be used to achieve tissue-specific transgene expression at high levels. The time allotted for the procedure depends upon the species of bird; adult transgenic quails can be generated in approximately 5 months.