ARS | Publication request: GLOBAL GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING DURING CYTOLYTIC INFECTION OF MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS: ARRAY ANALYSIS OF HOST-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS

Submitted to: Workshop on Molecular Pathogenesis of Marek's Disease and Avian Immunology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 5, 2006
Publication Date: August 5, 2006
Citation: Heidari, M., Huebner, M., Zhang, H.M., Silva, R.F., Spatz, S.J., Kireev, D. 2006. Global gene expression profiling during cytolytic infection of Marek's disease virus: array analysis of host-pathogen interactions [abstract]. 4th International Workshop on Molecular Pathogenesis of Marek's Disease Virus. p. 8.

Technical Abstract: Molecular mechanisms of pathogenecity of MDV-1 strains and the protection process of attenuated vaccine strains are poorly understood. Clearly a complex set of interactions between viral genes and host’s immune responses are involved. To better understand the cellular events and the pathogenesis of MDV, we conducted a comparative comprehensive gene expression profiling in MDV-infected chickens, using Affymetrix GeneChip Chicken Genome Array. Two-weeks old chickens were inoculated subcutaneously with 10,000 PFU of either a virulent or an attenuated strain of MDV. Five days post infection, spleens were collected and total RNA isolated for array analysis. The data was normalized by gcRMA to account for systematic sources of variations. The preliminary results revealed that MDV infection had induced down regulation of more than 102 chicken genes including many immune associated genes (2-8 fold decrease). In addition, more than 189 cellular genes were upregulated (2-7 fold increase) that included some immune suppressor genes. Our data also shows that most of the suspected virulence-associated MDV genes had much higher transcriptional activities (3-12 fold increase) during the cytolytic infection induced by the virulent strain of MDV. Identification and characterization of specific cellular genes associated with MDV-infection could be crucial in immunomodulatory efforts in prevention of MDV infection. Detection and analysis of viral genes/proteins involved in the pathogenesis of MDV will be essential in vaccine development and generation of mutant strains of virus for further characterization in induction of sterile immunity.