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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Avian Disease and Oncology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343842
Title: Genomic variation between genetic lines of white leghorns differed in resistance to Marek’s disease

Author
item XIE, QINGMEI - South China Agricultural University
item CHANG, SHUANG - Shangdong Agricultural University
item DONG, KUNZHE - Orise Fellow
item Dunn, John
item SONG, JIUZHOU - University Of Maryland
item Zhang, Huanmin

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Epigenetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2017
Publication Date: 8/14/2017
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5832839
Citation: Xie, Q., Chang, S., Dong, K., Dunn, J.R., Song, J., Zhang, H. 2017. Genomic fariation between genetic lines of white leghorns differed in resistance to Marek’s disease. Journal of Clinical Epigenetics. 3:29. https://doi.org/10.21767/2472-1158.100063.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21767/2472-1158.100063

Interpretive Summary: Marek’s disease is one of avian virus-induced infectious disease of chicken, which remains a threat to the poultry industry. In addition to vaccination to control the disease, searching for genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to the resistance of the disease is of importance to develop strategies to augment the current control measure. This study in a macroscale level gathered experimental and molecular evidence, which suggests both genetic and epigenetic factors may very well contribute to the resistance of the disease in poultry. The findings laid the foundation to warrant further investigation to identify specific functional genes and non-coding RNA genes that together define the disease resistance characteristics in poultry, which, ultimately will benefit the poultry industry and the consumers in the future.

Technical Abstract: Genetic resistance to avian tumor virus-induced tumorigenesis and vaccine protective efficacy preventing such tumorigenicity are determined by multiple factors including host genetics, viral virulence, dose of challenge viruses, type of vaccine, vaccine dosage, and interval between vaccination and viral exposure time. Studies on human immune response to vaccination suggest host genetic variability has a strong effect and involves both genes within and outside of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Using chickens primarily from two highly inbred and specific pathogen free lines (63 and 72) sharing a common MHC (B*2) haplotype in challenge trials, we recently reported a striking difference in protective efficacy conveyed by HVT or CVI988/Rispens at either 500 PFU/bird or a commercial dosage. We also reported DNA methylation level that differs between the two lines of chickens at promoter regions of genes. Differential gene expression was also reported. This report documents Marek’s disease (MD) incidences of the two highly inbred lines and a series of recombinant congenic strains (RCS) derived from the two lines, which were induced with a very virulent plus strain of MD virus, and illustrates genetic and epigenetic differences between the lines, which we anticipate, at least in part, are liable to the observed MD incidence and vaccine efficacy differences. The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying both genetic resistance to MD and vaccine protective efficacy are complex. Therefore, continuous and systematic efforts on such study are warranted. A better understanding on genetic resistance to MD will empower the disease control through genetic or genomic selection, and a better understanding on the roles of host genetics in relation to immunogenicity in response to vaccination will serve as the touchstone for rational design and development of safer and more efficacious vaccines against infectious diseases.