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Title: PROTEIN-CODING CONTENT OF THE SEQUENCE OF MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPE 1

Author
item Lupiani, Blanca
item Lee, Lucy
item Reddy, Sanjay

Submitted to: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2000
Publication Date: 12/31/2000
Citation: LUPIANI, B.M., LEE, L.F., REDDY, S.M. PROTEIN-CODING CONTENT OF THE SEQUENCE OF MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPE 1. HIRAI, K. EDITOR. SPRINGER-VERLAG, NEW YORK. CURRENT TOPICS IN MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY. 2000. V. 255. P. 159-190.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: MDV is classified as a member of the family Herpesviridae. Because of its lymphotropism, MDV was originally classified as a gamma-herpesvirus. However, later on, based on its genomic organization and significant sequence similarity to other alpha-herpesviruses, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), it was classified in the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. Like other alpha-herpesviruses, MDV establishes a life-long latent infection, but differs from other members of the subfamily in that it goes latent not in sensory nerve ganglia but in activated T-cells. The DNA sequence of two strains of MDV, GA (virulent MDV) and Md5 (very virulent MDV), has been completed. Translation of MDV genomic sequence revealed over 100 potential open reading frames (ORFs). Among these, 57 ORFs in the UL region (UL1-UL55), 1 in the TRL/IRL regions (LORF1 or ICP0), 1 in the TRS/IRS regions (ICP4) and 7 in the US region (US1, US2, US3, US6, US7, US8 and US10) have homologues in the HSV genome. Although most of these ORFs have not been characterized yet, we have indicated their potential function based on their homology to proteins of other herpesviruses. It is interesting to note that most of the MDV encoded proteins present the highest degree of homology with their counterparts in equine herpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4). In the present review we will describe the current knowledge on MDV proteins and their function.