ARS | Publication request: RECOMBINANT TECHNOLOGY TO MUTATE MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS: PP38 IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR ONCOGENESIS

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 14, 2001
Publication Date: July 14, 2001
Citation: Reddy, S.M., Lupiani, B., Gimeno, I., Silva, R.F., Lee, L.F., Witter, R.L. 2001. Recombinant technology to mutate marek's disease virus: pp38 is not essential for oncogenesis [abstract]. American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract.

Technical Abstract: Five overlapping cosmid clones were constructed that contain the entire genome of a very virulent strain of Marek's disease virus (Md5). Transfection of chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEF) with the five cosmids resulted in production of infectious MDV. Using RecA assisted restriction endonuclease technology we have deleted the pp38 gene from one of the cosmids. Transfection of CEF cells with the mutant cosmid, along with the other four cosmids, resulted in MDV that does not express the pp38 protein. The in vitro growth of pp38 deleted virus was similar to that of the parental Md5, however its growth was slightly impaired in vivo. Birds inoculated with pp38 deleted MDV developed visceral tumors and nerve lesions showing pp38 is not essential for oncogenesis. This technology would be useful for studying the function of viral genes in MDV replication and establishment of latency.