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Title: ROLE OF 1.8 KB MRNA FAMILY OF TRANSCRIPTS IN MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS PATHOGENESIS

Author
item Silva, Robert
item LUPIANI, BLANCA - MICH STATE UNIV
item Reddy, Sanjay

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2002
Publication Date: 12/31/2002
Citation: Silva, R.F., Lupiani, B., Reddy, S.M. 2002. Role of 1.8 kb mrna family of transcripts in marek's disease virus pathogenesis [abstract]. American Veterinary Medical Association. p. 18.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Oncogenic Marek's disease virus (MDV) can be attenuated by repeatedly passing the virus in cell culture. Attenuation is also associated with the increase in the number of copies of a 132 bp repeated region located in TRL and IRL of the viral genome. The expansion of the 132 bp repeats also results in the disappearance of a 1.8 kb mRNA transcript that contains the 132 bp repeats. We mapped this transcript to the BamHI-D and -H fragments. Two small, potential protein coding regions, (ORF-1 and ORF-2) were located in the transcripts. ORF-1 is upstream from the 132 bp repeats and ORF-2 overlaps with the 132 bp repeats. Rabbit antibodies were generated to each potential coding region. We also generated a series of recombinant MDVs that include: ORF-1 deletion, ORF-2 deletion, deletion of the 132 bp repeat, and insertion of 9 copies of the 132 bp repeat into the site that normally contains two copies in the pathogenic MD5 genome. None of these mutations adversely affected the ability of MDV to replicate in cell culture. In the presentation, we will describe the characterization of these mutant viruses.