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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
In Vitro Culture for H5N1-Specific Duck T Cells and Detection of Immune Responses Using Intracellular Cytokine Staining Method
Published on: May 30, 2025
Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of Pekin duck interferon-λ
Qingxia Yao1, Karl P Fischer2, Karina Arnesen3
1Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Abstract:
Interferons (IFNs) are the first line of defense against viral infections in vertebrates. Type III interferon (IFN-λ) is recognized for its key role in innate immunity of tissues of epithelial origin. Here we describe the identification of the Pekin duck IFN-λ ortholog (duIFN-λ). The predicted duIFN-λ protein has an amino acid identity of 63%, 38%, 37% and 33% with chicken IFN-λ and human IFN-λ3, IFN-λ2 and IFN-λ1, respectively. The duck genome contains a single IFN-λ gene that is comprised of five exons and four introns. Recombinant duIFN-λ up-regulated OASL and Mx-1 mRNA in primary duck hepatocytes. Our observations suggest evolutionary conservation of genomic organization and structural features implicated in receptor binding and antiviral activity. The identification and expression of duIFN-λ will facilitate further study of the role of type III IFN in antiviral defense and inflammatory responses of the Pekin duck, a non-mammalian vertebrate and pathogen host with relevance for human and animal health.
