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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388367
Research Project: Enhancing Genetic Resistance to Marek’s Disease in Poultry

Location: Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research

Title: Anti-CD81 antibodies block vertical transmission of avian leukosis virus subgroup J

Author
item LIAO, LIQIN - South China Agricultural University
item WU, ZHIQIANG - Wen’s Foodstuffs Group Co
item CHEN, WEIGUO - South China Agricultural University
item Zhang, Huanmin
item LI, AIJUN - Jinan University
item YAN, YIMING - South China Agricultural University
item XIE, ZI - South China Agricultural University
item LI, HONGXIN - South China Agricultural University
item LIN, WENCHENG - South China Agricultural University
item MA, JINYUN - South China Agricultural University
item ZHANG, XINHENG - South China Agricultural University
item XIE, QINGMEI - South China Agricultural University

Submitted to: Veterinary Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2021
Publication Date: 11/24/2021
Citation: Liao, L., Wu, Z., Chen, W., Zhang, H., Li, A., Yan, Y., Xie, Z., Li, H., Lin, W., Ma, J., Zhang, X., Xie, Q. 2021. Anti-CD81 antibodies block vertical transmission of avian leukosis virus subgroup J. Veterinary Microbiology. 264:109293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109293.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109293

Interpretive Summary: Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), a type of retrovirus, is known as one of the main prevalent pathogens causing sporadic outbreaks of avian leukosis worldwide and severe economic losses for the poultry industry. Due to the lack of vaccines and other effective control measures other than special management strategies (mainly eradication), searching for novel control approaches is warranted. This study reports finding on making use of an antibody specifically against a transmembrane protein, known as CD81, to intervene the ALVJ transmission. This finding, when further confirmed, may provide an alternative approach to better control the infection of ALVJ in chicken, which would greatly benefit the poultry industry.

Technical Abstract: Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), a type of retrovirus, is one of the main prevalent pathogens causing a wide range of damage in chicken, because of its extremely high pathogenicity, infectivity, and diversity. Vertical transmission of ALV-J often gives rise to more adverse pathogenicity. However, the way to eliminate ALV-J underlying vertical transmission remains poorly understood. In addition, unfortunately, there is no effective vaccine or drug to prevent and control the transmission of ALV-J so far. CD81, a member of the tetraspanin superfamily, plays important roles in regulating membrane proteins, facilitating cells adhesion or fusion, and participating in viral infection. On the other hand, cellular depletion of tetraspanins or treatment of cells with associated antibodies leads to decreased infectivity of certain virus. Therefore, to investigate whether antibodies against CD81 affect infection of ALV-J, an animal model for prevent of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in the vertical transmission was built, and treatment with the antibodies to CD81 effectively prevented the vertical transmission of ALV-J. Collectively, current study provided new avenues for the control of ALV-J transmission in chicken.