ARS | Publication request: MAREK'S DISEASE--RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND CURRENT STATUS

Submitted to: Western Poultry Disease Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 23, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: New knowledge on Marek's disease (MD) continues to be generated by select laboratories in many countries and is critical for the development of new vaccines and related control strategies. The 6th International Symposium on Marek's disease, held in Montreal in August, 2000, provided an opportunity to assess the current status of knowledge on this disease. Most notable among the many important accomplishments was (1) the genomic sequences for strains of all 3 viral serotypes and (2) improved techniques for manipulating the viral genome. With these tools, it will be possible to more accurately predict viral genes that are important for replication, oncogenicity and immunogenicity. Furthermore, one will be able to construct mutants with appropriate controls to test the biological functions of specific viral genes. This technology may also be used to create improved vaccines. This review paper discusses these and other recent accomplishments in MD research.