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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 #300979
Title: Use of BAC clones as standardized reagents for Marek’s disease virus research

Author
item Dunn, John
item Cheng, Hans

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2013
Publication Date: 7/25/2014
Citation: Dunn, J.R., Cheng, H.H. 2014. Use of BAC clones as standardized reagents for Marek’s disease virus research. American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, July 25-29, 2014, Denver, Colorado. Abstract No. 16755.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The cloning of the Marek’s disease virus (MDV) genome as an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone have led to major advances through our ability to study individual gene function by making precise insertions and deletions in the viral genome. We believe that MDV BAC clones will replace wild type MDV field strains used in all aspects of MDV research due to advantages that include 1) precise manipulation of the viral genome, 2) viral genomes that are stable and can be maintained independently of propagation in eukaryotic cells, and 3) shipping BAC-cloned viruses is significantly easier and cheaper than shipping cell-associated viruses. The purpose of this study was to establish a resource by acquiring virulent MDV BAC clones that have been generated by researchers around the world and produce a standardized virulence rank. Clones were pathotyped to compare virulence rank to prototype field strains (JM/102W, Md5, and 686) using the standard ADOL pathotyping assay. The BAC clones evaluated included Md5B40, Md5SN5-2, Md5SN5-3, pC12/130-10, pC12/130-15, pRB-1B-5, 686-1 and 686-2. Our results indicate viruses derived from BAC clones encompassed all three virulent pathotypes (vMDV, vvMDV and vv+MDV). By standardizing results through the use of BAC-cloned MDVs, future studies from various laboratories can be more easily compared between studies.