IgY Antibody Applications in Immunotherapy and Disease Prevention
Summary
Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) antibodies, naturally accumulated in the egg yolk of immunised hens, have emerged as a versatile platform for passive immunotherapy and disease prevention across human and veterinary medicine. Unlike mammalian IgG, IgY does not activate the human complement system or bind to mammalian Fc receptors, reducing the risk of inflammatory reactions. Production is non-invasive and scalable, yielding high titres of antigen-specific polyclonal antibodies at low cost. IgY preparations have been formulated for oral, intranasal and topical delivery, targeting gastrointestinal pathogens, respiratory viruses and surface-colonising bacteria. Their applications span prophylaxis—by blocking pathogen adhesion at mucosal surfaces—and therapy, by neutralising toxins or viral entry proteins. Recent advances in stabilisation and encapsulation have enhanced IgY resistance to gastric degradation, broadening the scope of formulation into food supplements, nasal sprays and wound dressings. These developments offer a promising adjunct or alternative to antibiotics and vaccines, addressing global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and emerging viral threats. Continued refinement of antigen selection, purification methods and delivery technologies will underpin the translation of IgY-based products into routine clinical and agricultural practice.
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IgY Antibody Applications in Immunotherapy and Disease Prevention publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in igy antibody applications in immunotherapy and disease prevention across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
IgY: The principal immunoglobulin class in birds, transferred to egg yolk to confer passive immunity to offspring.
Passive immunisation: The provision of preformed antibodies to an individual to prevent or treat infection without eliciting host antibody production.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): The capacity of microbes to withstand the effects of therapeutic agents, reducing treatment efficacy.
Prophylaxis: Preventive intervention aimed at obstructing pathogen colonisation or replication before disease onset.
References
- IgY antibodies: The promising potential to overcome antibiotic resistance. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Immunoglobulin Y for Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications in Infectious Diseases. Frontiers in Immunology (2021).
- Protective effect of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 adhesion in weaned piglets. BMC Veterinary Research (2019).
- Passive Immune-Protection of Litopenaeus vannamei against Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus Infections with Anti-Vibrio Egg Yolk (IgY)-Encapsulated Feed. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2016).
- Chicken egg yolk antibodies (IgY) as an alternative to mammalian antibodies. Indian Journal of Science and Technology (2010).
- Egg-Derived Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) With Broad Variant Activity as Intranasal Prophylaxis Against COVID-19. Frontiers in Immunology (2022).
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