ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HERPESVIRUS OF TURKEYS LATENCY ASSOCIATEDTRANSCRIPTS (LAT)

Authors: TESMER, T - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; WU, X - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; Silva, Robert; HOLLAND, M - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) establishes a latent infection in chickens. This ability to produce a latent infection is a common feature of all herpesviruses. We are interested in identifying which HVT genes may be responsible for establishment, maintenance or reactivation of latency. Based upon previous investigations, latent HVT infections are characterized dby the absence of glycoprotein B expression with HVT genome present. We have determined that HVT establishes latency by 200 days post infection of 15I5 x I7 chickens with HVT strain FC126. Previously, in situ hybridization experiments in our laboratories revealed LAT transcriptional activity in the repeat regions (TRL, IRL, IRS and TRS) and unique long region immediately adjacent to the IRL. Using the ZAP Express**TM cDNA synthesis and cloning system, (Stratagene, LaJolla, CA) a cDNA library was isolated from the mRNA of a chicken spleen latently infected with herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), strain FC126. LAT clones were isolated from the library using HVT probes from the previously identified regions of LAT activity. Seven clones ranging in size from 750 to 2400 base pairs mapped to the HVT TRL and IRL, but comparison of partial sequences has not revealed homology between the clones. We are currently mapping clones to the HVT genome and sequencing them to elucidate homology between the clones and to other herpesvirus LAT. These results suggest that HVT latency may resemble that of Epstein Barr Virus, rather than Herpes Simplex Virus.