Marek's disease alphaherpesvirus (MDV) RLORF4 is not required for expression of glycoprotein C and interindividual spread

Marek’s disease (MD) in chickens is caused by Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2, better known as MD herpesvirus (MDV). Current vaccines do not block interindividual spread from chicken-to-chicken, therefore, understanding MDV interindividual spread provides important information for the development of potential therapies to protect against MD, while also providing a natural host to study herpesvirus dissemination. It has long been thought that glycoprotein C (gC) of alphaherpesviruses evolved with their host based on their ability to bind and inhibit complement in a species-selective manner. Here, we tested the functional importance of gC during interindividual spread and host specificity using the natural model system of MDV in chickens through classical compensation experiments. By exchanging MDV gC with another chicken alphaherpesvirus (Gallid alphaherpesvirus 1 or infectious laryngotracheitis virus; ILTV) gC, we determined that ILTV gC could not compensate for MDV gC during interindividual spread. In contrast, exchanging turkey herpesvirus (Meleagrid alphaherpesvirus 1 or HVT) gC could compensate for chicken MDV gC. Both ILTV and MDV are Gallid alphaherpesviruses; however, ILTV is a member of the Iltovirus genus, while MDV is classified as a Mardivirus along with HVT. These results suggest that gC is functionally conserved based on the virus genera (Mardivirus vs. Iltovirus) and not the host (Gallid vs. Meleagrid).

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Molecular Analysis of the Glycoprotein C-Negative Phenotype of Attenuated Marek's Disease Virus

Virology ◽

10.1006/viro.1994.1137 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 199 (2) ◽

pp. 393-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Melinda R. Wilson ◽

Ronald A. Southwick ◽

James T. Pulaski ◽

Virginia L. Tieber ◽

Yu Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

Molecular Analysis ◽

Marek's Disease Virus ◽

Marek's Disease ◽

Marek’S Disease Virus ◽

Marek’S Disease ◽

Glycoprotein C ◽

Negative Phenotype

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Electron Microscopy of a Herpesvirus Isolated from Marek's Disease in Duck and Chicken Embryo Fibroblast Cultures

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100100858 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 222-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keyvan Nazerian

Keyword(s):

Inclusion Bodies ◽

Chicken Embryo Fibroblast ◽

Marek's Disease ◽

Marek’S Disease ◽

Duck Embryo Fibroblast ◽

Multinucleated Cells ◽

Viral Particles ◽

Infected Cells ◽

And Control ◽

Do So

A herpes-like virus has been isolated from duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cultures inoculated with blood from Marek's disease (MD) infected birds. Cultures which contained this virus produced MD in susceptible chickens while virus negative cultures and control cultures failed to do so. This and other circumstantial evidence including similarities in properties of the virus and the MD agent implicate this virus in the etiology of MD.Histochemical studies demonstrated the presence of DNA-staining intranuclear inclusion bodies in polykarocytes in infected cultures. Distinct nucleo-plasmic aggregates were also seen in sections of similar multinucleated cells examined with the electron microscope. These aggregates are probably the same as the inclusion bodies seen with the light microscope. Naked viral particles were observed in the nucleus of infected cells within or on the edges of the nucleoplasmic aggregates. These particles measured 95-100mμ, in diameter and rarely escaped into the cytoplasm or nuclear vesicles by budding through the nuclear membrane (Fig. 1). The enveloped particles (Fig. 2) formed in this manner measured 150-170mμ in diameter and always had a densely stained nucleoid. The virus in supernatant fluids consisted of naked capsids with 162 hollow, cylindrical capsomeres (Fig. 3). Enveloped particles were not seen in such preparations.

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Isolation and identification of Marek’s disease virus (MDV) from feather follicle epithelium and internal organs of diseased chickens in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal ◽

10.35943/mvmj.2019.22.102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 6-11

Author(s):

Aly El-Kenawy ◽

Mohamed El-Tholoth ◽

Emad A

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Disease Virus ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Marek's Disease Virus ◽

Marek's Disease ◽

Marek’S Disease Virus ◽

Marek’S Disease ◽

Field Samples ◽

Feather Follicle ◽

Positive Results

In the present study, a total of 16 samples including feather follicle epithelium, ovary, spleen and kidney (4 samples for each organ) were collected from diseased chicken flocks suspected to be infected with Marek’s disease virus (MDV) at Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during the period from October 2016 to October 2017. Each sample was pooled randomly from three to five birds (90 to 360 days old). The isolation of the suspected virus from the collected samples was carried out via chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of 12 days old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Three egg passages were carried out for each sample. Hyperimmune serum was prepared against standard MDV. MDV in both field and egg passaged samples (after 3rd passage) was identified by agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Molecular identification of virus was carried out by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real- time PCR in four selected samples. The results revealed that 14 samples (87.5%) including 4 (100%) samples from feather follicle epithelium, ovary and kidney and 2 (50%) samples from spleen, showed positive results in virus isolation after 3rd passage. The positive results percentage by AGPT for field samples were 50% (8 out of 16 samples), while after the 3rd passage in ECEs were 37.5% (6 out of 16 samples) and the positive results percentage by IFAT for field samples were 62.5% (10 out of 16 samples), while after the 3rd passage in ECEs were 81.25 % (13 out of 16 samples). Viral nucleic acid was detected in all selected samples by conventional and real- time PCR. The results indicate that feather follicle epithelium is the best organ for MDV detection. IFAT is superior over AGPT in virus detection. Conventional and real - time PCR could be efficiently used for molecular detection of the virus.

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