Silkworm-Based Vaccine Production for H5N1: A One Health Approach to Pandemic Preparedness

The persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) at the animal–human–environment interface exemplifies the urgent need for a One Health approach to pandemic preparedness. Outbreaks in poultry and wild birds continue to cause severe economic disruption, food insecurity, and sporadic but often fatal human infections, while viral evolution challenges existing vaccine strategies. Conventional platforms, egg- based, mammalian cell culture, microbial expression, and mRNA, face limitation ns in scalability, cost, speed, and deployment in low- and middle-income countries. In this context, silkworm-based biofactories provide a promising alternative for vaccine production. Silkworm larvae can generate complex antigens with mammalian-like post-translational modifications at low cost, with minimal infrastructure, short production cycles, and reduced environmental impact. Their dual-use potential for veterinary and human vaccines aligns with the One Health imperative, enabling simultaneous protection of poultry and people while reducing the risk of zoonotic spillover. Decentralized silkworm-based production in outbreak-prone regions could shorten supply chains, accelerate response, and enhance equitable access. Realizing this potential will require investment in bioprocess optimization, regulatory adaptation, and public–private partnerships. By leveraging silkworm biofactories, global health systems can advance toward sustainable and resilient preparedness against H5N1 and other emerging zoonoses.