ARS | Publication request: Accumulation of quasi-species during serial passage-induced attenuation of Marek's Disease Virus-1 (MDV-1)

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2009
Publication Date: July 10, 2009
Citation: Spatz, S.J., Gimeno, I.M., Heidari, M. 2009. Accumulation of quasi-species during serial passage-induced attenuation of Marek's Disease Virus-1 (MDV-1). American Association of Avian Pathologists. 1(1): 128.

Technical Abstract: Attenuation of Marek's Disease Virus-1 (MDV-1) involves the serial passage of virulent isolates in cell culture 100 times. The pathobiology in chickens of a single virulent strain (648A) at defined passage intervals (p10 through p100) was determined along with their nucleotide sequences using pyrosequencing that on average generated a 50 fold base pair coverage. In theory this should allow a correlation between phenotypes (lost of neoplastic lesions, transient paralysis, etc) and genotypes. What was discovered was a collection of polymorphisms within higher passages. Few genetic changes were absolute after the attenuation passage of 80, indicating changes in specific genes are at best suggestive.