Genetic Reinstatement of RIG-I in Chickens Reveals Insights into Avian Immune Evolution and Influenza Interaction

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) activates mitochondrial antiviral signaling proteins, initiating the antiviral response.RIG-IandRNF135, a ubiquitin ligase regulator, are missing in domestic chickens but conserved in mallard ducks. The chickens’RIG-Iloss was long believed to be linked to increased avian influenza susceptibility. We reinstated both genes in chickens and examined their susceptibility to infection with an H7N1 avian influenza virus. UninfectedRIG-I-expressing chickens exhibited shifts in T and B cells. At the same time, the H7N1 infection led to severe disease, persistent weight loss, and increased viral replication compared to wild-type chickens. The simultaneous expression ofRIG-IandRNF135potentiated theRIG-I activity and was associated with exacerbated inflammatory response and increased mortality without influencing virus replication. Additional animal infection experiments with two other avian influenza viruses validated these findings. They confirmed that the harmful effects triggered byRIG-IorRIG-I-RNF135-expression require a minimum degree of viral virulence. Our data indicate that the loss ofRIG-Iin chickens has likely evolved to counteract deleterious inflammation caused by viral infection and highlight the outcome of restoring evolutionary lost genes in birds.