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Title: Recombinant Marek's disease virus lacking the oncogene Meq as a candidate for future control of Marek's disease in chickens

Author
item Lee, Lucy
item REDDY, SANJAY - TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
item KREAGER, KEATON - HY-LINE INTERNATIONAL

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/18/2007
Publication Date: 7/18/2007
Citation: Lee, L.F., Reddy, S., Kreager, K. 2007. Recombinant Marek's disease virus lacking the oncogene Meq as a candidate for future control of Marek's disease in chickens [abstract]. American Association of Avian Pathologists/American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract. p. 42.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vaccination has dramatically reduced the incidence of Marek’ disease, but more virulent viruses are emerging and developing new control strategies is needed. We have used Marek’s disease virus (rMd5) cosmid clones to generate recombinant viruses for gene function studies. The Meq gene is a unique gene, which resembles oncogene jun/fos, transformed DF-1 cells in culture and induction of MD tumors. The Meq gene is located in the A6 cosmid, its deletion was by the RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage method. The Meq deletion A6 cosmid together with SN5, P89, SN16, and B40 cosmids were transfected into duck embryo fibroblasts to generate a recombinant rMd5 viruses lacking the oncogene Meq (rMd5'Meq). We have studied the recombinant rMd5'Meq virus both in the laboratory and commercial setting and found it to be excellent candidate virus for protection against Marek’s disease.