Fowlpox virus (FWPV)

Fowlpox virus (FWPV) is a large, enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus and the type species of the genus Avipoxvirus within the Poxviridae family (Source: ICTV, 2023). It is the etiologic agent of fowlpox, a slow-spreading disease affecting chickens, turkeys, and other birds, manifesting in cutaneous (dry) or diphtheritic (wet) forms (Source: Merck Veterinary Manual, 2022). In the context of pharmacology and biotechnology, FWPV is not a single molecular target but a complex pathogen whose replication machinery, such as the viral DNA polymerase, can be targeted by broad-spectrum poxvirus antivirals like cidofovir (Source: Antiviral Research, 2010). Additionally, FWPV is widely employed as a recombinant vaccine vector because it can express foreign antigens and induce potent T-cell and B-cell responses without completing a full infectious cycle in mammalian hosts (Source: Journal of General Virology, 2000). Its large genome allows for the insertion of multiple genes, making it a versatile tool for multi-valent vaccine development in both veterinary and human medicine (Source: Vaccine, 2015).

Other names

Avian pox virusVariola aviumBird pox virus