ARS | Publication request: Transcriptional profiling of candidate genes induced by Marek's disease virus during cytolytic and latency infections

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 19, 2008
Publication Date: July 19, 2008
Citation: Lee, L.F., Chang, S., Zhang, H., Heidari, M. 2008. Transcriptional profiling of candidate genes induced by Marek's disease virus during cytolytic and latency infections. American Veterinary Medical Association Convention Notes. 145th AVMA Annual Convention, July 19-22, 2008, New Orleans, LA. 2008 CD-ROM.

Technical Abstract: The role of cytokines and other related proteins in Marek’s disease pathogenesis and immunity is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the transcriptional profiling of a panel of cytokines and other immune-related genes in the spleen tissues of chickens infected with rMd5, rMd5-delta-vIL8, or rMd5-delta-dpp38 strains of vvMDV during cytolytic and latency infections. Real-Time PCR analysis in previous studies revealed a significant up-regulation in the expression levels of interleukins, interferons, colony stimulating factors, and inducible nitric oxide synthetase by a vv+MDV. Chickens infected with rMd5, rMd5-delta-vIL8, or rMd5-delta-pp38 mutant viruses showed similar transcriptional patterns at latent infection but significantly different expression levels during early lytic infection. These differences may attribute to the virulence of the virus since the earlier experiment used a strain of vv+MDV (648A) but the mutant viruses used in this study belong to the vvMDV (Md5) pathotype.