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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 #289323
Title: Insertion of reticuloendotheliosis virus long terminal repeat into the genome of CVI988 strain of Marek’s disease virus results in enhanced growth and protection

Author
item LUPIANI, BLANCA - Texas A&M University
item Lee, Lucy
item KREAGER, KEN - Hy-Line International
item Witter, Richard
item REDDY, SANJAY - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/28/2012
Publication Date: 1/14/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/56844
Citation: Lupiani, B., Lee, L.F., Kreager, K.S., Witter, R.L., Reddy, S.M. 2013. Insertion of reticuloendotheliosis virus long terminal repeat into the genome of CVI988 strain of Marek’s disease virus results in enhanced growth and protection. Avian Diseases. 57(2):427-431.

Interpretive Summary: Mark’s disease (MD), a virus-induced cancer-like disease of chickens, is a major disease problem in commercial poultry. Vaccination of commercial poultry has drastically reduced losses from MD and the poultry industry cannot be sustained without the use of vaccines. The objective of this research was to develop and improve vaccines. We have developed a novel recombinant MD virus (MDV) vaccine named CVRM. This virus replicated to higher levels than parental CVI988 in cell culture and remained apathogenic for chickens. In addition, CVRM showed protection indices similar or superior to those afforded by CVI988 virus in laboratory and field protection trials, suggesting it could be developed as a safe and efficacious vaccine to protect against very virulent plus MDV. This information is of great importance to the poultry industry as vaccine companies seek future vaccine for control of MD.

Technical Abstract: Marek’s disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease of chicken caused by serotype 1 MD virus (MDV). Vaccination of commercial poultry has drastically reduced losses from MD and the poultry industry cannot be sustained without the use of vaccines. Retrovirus insertion into herpesviruses genome is an efficient process that alters the biological properties of herpesviruses. RM1, a virus derived from virulent JM strain of MDV by insertion of the Reticuloendotheliosis (REV) LTR was attenuated for oncogenicity but retains properties of the parental virus such as lymphoid organ atrophy. Here we show that insertion of the REV LTR into the genome of vaccine strain CVI988, resulted in a virus, CVRM, that replicated to higher levels than parental CVI988 in cell culture and remained apathogenic for chickens. In addition, CVRM showed protection indices similar or superior to those afforded by CVI988 virus in laboratory and field protection trials, suggesting it could be developed as a safe and efficacious vaccine to protect against very virulent plus MDV.