Scientists have used gene-editing techniques to stop the bird flu virus from spreading in chicken cells grown in the lab. The team prevented the virus from taking hold by deleting a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells.

The findings raise the possibility of producing gene-edited chickens that are resistant to the disease.

Researchers prevented the virus from taking hold by deleting a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells.

The next step will be to try to produce chickens with the genetic change. No birds have been produced yet, the team says.

Scientists targeted a specific molecule inside chicken cells called ANP32A. Researchers at Imperial College London found that during an infection, flu viruses hijack this molecule to help replicate themselves.

Working with experts from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, the researchers used gene-editing techniques to remove the section of DNA responsible for producing ANP32A.

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