Abstract
Infectious bursal disease is a contagious disease of young chickens caused by a RNA virus. The disease is characterized by lymphopenia, hypertonic dehydration and relative erthrocytosis in the bursa of Fabricius. Once a fowl is infected, there is no effective treatment and morbidity can be 100%. Current control of the disease is achieved by vaccinating breeder birds with modified live viral vaccine. Through vaccination, immunity passes to young chickens and they can be protected for the first critical few weeks after hatching. However, the inactivated IBDV vaccine is expensive and difficult to produce since the virus cannot grow to sufficiently high titres in simple culture systems. Through genetic engineering techniques, recombinant sub-unit product of the viral protein has been cloned and produced. Interested investors are invited to contact the researcher to explore possibilities of collaboration such as large scale production and clinical testing.

Contact Information
Mr H Y Wong
Director, Technology Transfer Office
City University of Hong Kong
83 Tat Chee Avenue
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel : (852) 2788 8428
Fax : (852) 2788 9119
Email : hy.wong@cityu.edu.hk