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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #144724
Title: RECOMBINANT DNA VACCINES TO CONTROL MAREK'S DISEASE: WHERE DO WE STAND?

Author
item REDDY, SANJAY - USDA-ARS-MWA-ADOL
item LUPIANI, BLANCA - USDA-ARS-MWA-ADOL

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2003
Publication Date: 7/31/2003
Citation: REDDY, S., LUPIANI, B. RECOMBINANT DNA VACCINES TO CONTROL MAREK'S DISEASE: WHERE DO WE STAND?. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AVIAN PATHOLOGISTS. 2003. ABSTRACT P. 103.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Marek's disease (MD) is caused by an oncogenic herpesvirus. Vaccines have been and continue to be a cornerstone of MD control. There are three serotypes of vaccines, of which CVI988, belonging to serotype 1, offers superior protection against very virulent strains of MD virus(MDV). It is well documented that MDV have evolved to greater virulence in recent times, and is able to cause disease in vaccinated chickens. Recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) vector based vaccines showed some promise in protection against MDV challenge, but did not prove to be more protective than conventional vaccines. Using recombinant DNA technology we have introduced mutations into the genome of very virulent strain of MD virus. Some of these recombinants lost their ability to transformation lymphocytes but retained their ability to replicate in chickens. These recombinants have been tested as potential vaccines to control MD. We will discuss the recent progress made in the generation and testing of recombinant DNA vaccines. This work was conducted at the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA.