Detection of the meq gene in the T cell subsets from chickens infected with Marek's disease virus serotype 1

The meq gene was thought to be only detected in Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV 1) including a very virulent strain, Md5, while L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the meq open reading frame, is found in other strains of MDV 1, such as CVI 988/R6. However, both meq and L-meq were previously detected by PCR in chickens infected with MDV 1, suggesting that MDV 1 may consists of at least two subpopulations, one with meq, the other with L-meq. To further analyze these subpopulations, we analyzed the time course changes in distribution of these subpopulations among T cell subsets from chickens infected with MDV 1. Both meq and L-meq were detected in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infected with strain Md5 or CVI 988/R6. The shift in MDV subpopulations from one displaying meq to the other displaying L-meq and/or the conversion from meq to L-meq occurred mainly in the CD8+ T cell subset from Md5-infected chickens. PCR products corresponding to L-meq rather than meq were frequently amplified from the CD8+ T cell subset from CVI 988/R 6 -infected chickens. These results suggest that a dominant subpopulation of MDV 1 changes depending on the T cell subsets, and that L-meq is dominantly present in the CD8+ T cells which play a role in the clearance of pathogenic agents.     

Development of a nested polymerase chain reaction method to detect oncogenic Marek's disease virus from feather tips.

For the easy survey of Marek's disease virus (MDV), feather tip-derived DNA from MDV-infected chickens can be used because feather tips are easy to collect and feather follicle epithelium is known to be the only site of productive replication of cell-free MDV. To develop a diagnostic method to differentiate highly virulent strains of MDV from the attenuated MDV vaccine strain, CVI988, which is widely used, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect a segment of the meq gene in feather tip samples of chickens experimentally infected with MDV. In chickens infected with Md5, a strain of oncogenic MDV, the meq gene was consistently detected, whereas the L-meq gene, in which a 180-base pair (180-bp) sequence is inserted into the meq gene, was detected in CVI988-infected chickens. Moreover, the meq gene was mainly detected even in chickens co-infected with both Md5 and CVI988. These results suggest that this method is appropriate for the surveillance of the highly virulent MDV infection in the field.     

Diversity (polymorphism) of the meq gene in the attenuated Marek's disease virus (MDV) serotype 1 and MDV-transformed cell lines

The meq gene encoding a 339-amino-acid bZIP transactivator protein has been identified as a candidate oncogene of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1), which induces malignant lymphomas in chickens. We have previously reported that, in addition to meq, L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the region encoding the transactivation domain of meq, is also detected in chickens experimentally infected with MDV. To further analyze the diversity in meq, PCR was performed using a primer set which specifically amplify the proline-rich repeat (PRR) region in the transactivation domain of meq. In CVI988/R6, a vaccine strain of MDV1, and JM, an MDV1 strain attenuated by prolonged passage in vitro, a major band of a 0.8 kb corresponding to L-meq as well as a minor band of 0.6 kb corresponding to meq was detected by PCR. Furthermore, extra 0.5- and 0.3-kb bands, corresponding to genes termed as short meq (S-meq), and very short meq (VS-meq), respectively, were also detected. These genes were also detected in MDV-transformed cell lines, MSB1 and MTB1. In Md5, an oncogenic MDV1, attenuated by prolonged passage in vitro, the 0.6-kb meq was consistently detected, and 0.5-kb S-meq was occasionally detected. This diversity in meq was due to the difference in the copy number of the PRR region: L-meq and meq contained 9 and 6 copies of PRR while 4 and 2 copies of PRR were present in S-meq and VS-meq, respectively. Thus, the meq gene is polymorphic in the attenuated MDV1 and the MDV-transformed cell lines, and gene products from different meq genes may have different functions from each other.     

Difference in the meq gene between oncogenic and attenuated strains of Marek's disease virus serotype 1

Serotype 1 strains of Marek's disease virus (MDV1), except attenuated vaccine strains, are known to cause lymphomas in visceral organs of infected chickens. To know additional genetic differences between oncogenic and nononcogenic MDV1, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the meq gene of the viral genome. In addition to the 1,062-bp band including the native meq open reading frame (ORF), a 1.2-kb band was amplified from the DNA sample prepared from chick embryo fibroblast infected with an attenuated strain, CVI988, but not with oncogenic strains. Sequence analysis of the 1.2-kb band showed that a 178-bp sequence was inserted to the meq ORF of CVI988. This ORF could encode for the Meq protein with a different transactivator domain. Southern blot analysis also confirmed the insertion of the 178-bp sequence in the meq ORF of CVI988. This insertion of 178-bp sequence may explain the reason why CVI988 is not oncogenic.     

Suppression of transcription activity of the MEQ protein of oncogenic Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) by L-MEQ of non-oncogenic MDV1

Meq is one of the candidate oncogenes in the MDV1 genome. We previously reported a difference in the meq open reading frame (ORF) between oncogenic and non-oncogenic MDV1: L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the meq ORF, is detected in non-oncogenic MDV1. To study the functions of a gene product of L-meq (L-MEQ), transactivation by L-MEQ was analyzed by dual luciferase assay using a reporter gene under the control of long (-1--873 bp) and short (-1 - -355 bp) meq promoter (LMP and SMP, respectively). LMP showed higher promoter function than SMP. L-MEQ transactivated the expression of the reporter gene, but less than MEQ did. In the presence of SMP or the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter, the same or slightly higher transactivation was observed in cells cotransfected with both meq and L-meq than cells transfected only with meq. However, in the presence of LMP, lower transactivation was observed in cells cotransfected with both meq and L-meq than cells transfected only with meq, suggesting that L-MEQ can be a transrepressor. Replication of a vvMDV1 was enhanced in the cells with meq. Interestingly, however, replication of vvMDV1 was suppressed in the cells with L-meq or with both L-meq and meq, compared to untransfected cells. Thus, L-MEQ could suppress replication of vvMDV1 displaying the meq gene in coinfected cells.     

鸡马立克氏病活疫苗免疫效力比较试验

用ＨＶＴ冻干苗、ＨＶＴ细胞结合苗、ＣＶＩ９８８细胞结合苗、ＳＢ１＋ＦＣ１２６双价活疫苗、３０１Ｂ／１＋ＦＣ１２６双价活疫苗和Ｚ４＋ＦＣ１２６双价活疫苗等６种鸡马立克氏病（ＭＤ）疫苗免疫ＳＰＦ白来航鸡或普通伊莎鸡，用鸡马立克氏病病毒（ＭＤＶ）强毒ＧＡ株、京－１血毒以及鸡马立克氏病超强毒ｖｖＭＤＶ－Ｍｄ５毒株分别攻击进行免疫效力比较试验。试验表明，ＭＤ单价苗的免疫效力强弱顺序依次是ＣＶＩ９８８、ＨＶＴ细胞结合苗和ＨＶＴ冻干苗，这３种ＭＤ单价苗均能给免疫鸡群提供有效的免疫保护力。ＳＢ１＋ＦＣ１２６、Ｚ４＋ＦＣ１２６和３０１Ｂ／１＋ＦＣ１２６等３种ＭＤ双价苗免疫效力显著高于ＭＤ单价苗，均能给免疫鸡群提供较强的免疫保护力，并能有效地抵抗ｖｖＭＤＶ－Ｍｄ５毒株的致瘤作用。Ｚ４＋ＦＣ１２６和３０１Ｂ／１＋ＦＣ１２６ＭＤ双价苗免疫效力无显著差异     

A comparative evaluation of the protective efficacy of rMd5deltaMeq and CVI988/ Rispens against a vv+ strain of Marek's disease virus infection in a series of recombinant congenic strains of White Leghorn chickens

Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease of domestic chickens caused by a highly infectious, oncogenic alpha-herpesvirus known as Marek's disease virus (MDV). MD is presently controlled by vaccination. Current MD vaccines include attenuated serotype 1 strains (e.g., CVI988/Rispens), avirulent serotype 2 (SB-1), and serotype 3 (HVT) MDV strains. In addition, recombinant MDV strains have been developed as potential new and more efficient vaccines to sustain the success of MD control in poultry. One of the candidate recombinant MDV strains, named rMd5deltaMeq, was derived from Md5, a very virulent strain of MDV lacking the MDV oncogene Meq. Our earlier reports suggest that rMd5deltaMeq provided protection equally well or better than commonly used MD vaccines in experimental and commercial lines of chickens challenged with very virulent plus (vv+) strains of MDV. In this study, maternal antibody-positive (trial 1) and negative (trial 2) chickens from a series of relatively MD resistant lines were either vaccinated with the rMd5deltaMeq or CVI988/Rispens followed by infection of a vv+ strain of MDV, 648A, passage 10. This report presents experimental evidence that the rMd5deltaMeq protected significantly better than the CVI988/Rispens (P < 0.01) in the relatively resistant experimental lines of chickens challenged with the vv+ strain of MDV. Together with early reports, the rMd5deltaMeq appeared to provide better protection, comparing with the most efficacious commercially available vaccine, CVI988/Rispens, for control of MD in lines of chickens regardless of their genetic background.     

黄羽肉鸡马立克氏病病毒强毒株GX18NNM4的分离鉴定及其致瘤基因meq的序列分析

为探究黄羽肉鸡鸡群临床异常的发病原因,通过病理剖检、组织病理学观察、PCR检测、细胞培养、间接免疫荧光试验(Immunofluorescent assay,IFA)、序列测定进行病原分离鉴定。结果显示:病鸡心脏、肝脏等器官均有肿瘤样病变;常见肿瘤病病毒PCR检测呈现马立克氏病病毒(Marek′s disease virus,MDV)阳性,细胞培养病毒分离及IFA鉴定结果表明成功分离一株MDV野毒株(命名为GX18NNM4);分离株meq基因的序列分析表明,GX18NNM4与vvMDV参考株GX0101的同源性最高,其核苷酸及氨基酸相似性分别高达99.8%和99.4%,且其突变位点符合国内强毒株的特征。通过氨基酸序列分析发现GX18NNM4的两个脯氨酸重复序列PPPP发生了突变,即PPPP→PNPP,且GX18NNM4与vvMDV/vv+MDV参考株RB1B、Md5、GX0101及648A的脯氨酸发生中断的数量同在0~3的范围内。结果表明该鸡群为MDV感染。     

Kinetics of phytohemagglutinin response in chickens infected with various strains of Marek's disease virus

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response of whole blood lymphocytes from white leghorn inbred line 7(2) chickens infected with various strains of Marek's disease virus (MDV) was monitored sequentially for 6 weeks postinfection. A significant difference between JM and GA strains was shown. A two-phase depression in the PHA response was observed in chickens infected with the JM strain. Early depression occurred 1 week postinfection and was followed by recovery a week later. The second depression occurred at 4 weeks postinfection and lasted until the end of the experiment. The GA strain-infected group, on the other hand, began to show depression 4 weeks postinfection, and most chickens died within a short time thereafter. PHA response of chickens infected with strain Md11/75C, attenuated in cell culture from highly virulent strain Md11, was almost the same as that of control chickens.     

Molecular identification of the Marek's disease virus vaccine strain CVI988 in vaccinated chickens

The study describes three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) systems for the CVI988 vaccine virus: the meq gene, the MDV BamHI-D/H 132 bp tandem repeat fragment and the MDV-gB gene. Whereas the PCR product of virulent MDV strains and of the CVI988 virus strain with the meq and the 132 bp primer sets differed for the two templates, the MDV-gB PCR products were similar. The sensitivity of the three PCRs was determined for the two templates: the CVI988 DNA was detected up to 2.48 plaque forming units, and a MDV-1 DNA, was amplified with the 132 bp primers up to the 10(-3) DNA dilution, and up to the 10(-2) with the MDV-gB and meq gene primers. As conventional detection for the CVI988 vaccine virus is by tissue culture, the aim was to analyse the feasibility of the molecular detection of the vaccine virus in the vaccinated chick. In two experimental trials employing specific pathogen free and commercial Lohmann chicks, respectively, the vaccine virus replicated to a limited extent; it was detected only in the spleen of up to 60% chicks at 2-4 weeks and in one chick at 3 weeks, respectively. The survey of three commercial Lohmann flocks, kept in biosecurity conditions, revealed the vaccine virus only in the spleen of 40% of 30-day-old chicks. The present study shows that CV1988 DNA is present in vaccinated chicks in a low quantity and it is difficult to detect directly from the chick, probably because vaccine viruses are latent in vivo. For an efficient detection it is pertinent to cultivate the vaccine virus on chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF), as then the virus escapes the latent state, enters into the productive mode of replication, and a high viral copy number is produced.     

Coinfection of specific-pathogen-free chickens with Marek's disease virus (MDV) and chicken infectious anemia virus: effect of MDV pathotype

Both Marek's disease virus (MDV) and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) infections are prevalent in chickens throughout the world. In the past decade, MDV strains with increased virulence (very virulent plus MDV pathotype [vv+MDV]) have been isolated. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of coinfection of chickens with CIAV and a vv+MDV isolate. Specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated at 1 day posthatch with RB1B (very virulent MDV pathotype [vvMDV]) only, 584A (vv+MDV) only, CIAV only, RB1B + CIAV, 584A + CIAV, or nothing. Samples of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius were collected at 4, 7, 10, and 13 days postinoculation (DPI). Thymic and bursal atrophy at 13 DPI and final mortality at 30 DPI were significantly greater in chickens inoculated with 584A with or without added CIAV, or with RB1B plus CIAV, compared with birds inoculated with RB1B alone. Both amounts of virus reisolated and levels of virus detected by quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction were greater at 4 DPI in 584A inoculates compared with RB1B inoculates. To monitor the early cytolytic infection, northern analysis was done with a probe for the MDV immediate early gene ICP4 (infected cell protein 4). In the absence of CIAV, ICP4 expression was more apparent in chickens inoculated with 584A than in those inoculated with RB1B. CIAV coinfection increased ICP4 expression in the spleens of chickens infected with RB1B. These results indicated that inoculation of chickens with the 584A isolate caused a more robust early cytolytic infection compared with inoculation with RB1B alone and support the classification of 584A as a vv+MDV strain. Coinfection with CIAV exacerbated vvMDV strain RB1B infection. The extent of this exacerbation was less evident when birds were coinfected with 584A and CIAV.     

Early posthatch protection against Marek's disease in chickens vaccinated in ovo with a CVI988 serotype 1 vaccine

CVI988, a serotype 1 Marek's disease virus (MDV), was used as an in ovo vaccine in specific-pathogen-free chickens to determine if this virus induces early posthatch protection against Marek's disease as has been shown previously for turkey herpesvirus. MDV CVI988 was injected at embryonation day (ED) 17 (group 1) or at hatch (group 2). A third group (group 3) was left unvaccinated. At 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 days of age, chickens from each group were sampled and examined as follows: a) single-cell suspensions of spleen were inoculated onto chicken embryo fibroblast monolayers to isolate the virus; b) sections of bursal tissues were stained by indirect immunofluorescence assays with anti-pp38 monoclonal antibody to identify viral antigen expression; and c) chickens were exposed intra-abdominally to MDV RB1B, a virulent serotype 1 MDV. Results revealed that in chickens given MDV CVI988 at ED 17, virus and virus-encoded protein were not detected until chickens were 3 and 2 days old after hatching, respectively. Results also indicated that during the first 4 days after hatch, the chickens given MDV CVI988 at ED 17 were better protected against virulent MDV than those given MDV CVI988 at hatch (P < or = 0.001). These results suggested that MDV CVI988 proteins were adequately expressed in the embryo to initiate prehatch immunologic response. Additional efforts with more sensitive techniques than used in this study are needed to identify the nature of viral expression in embryos.     

马立克氏病病毒pp38基因启动子和增强子的克隆和序列分析

参考GeneBank发表的马立克氏病病毒(MDV)国际标准强毒株GA的基因序列，设计合成一对引物，分别以RBIB，814，GD2(广东分离株)，J-1-E(北京分离株)，Md11，Md5，CV1988等不同毒株的MDV基因组DNA为模板，通过PCR扩增，获得了预期大小的PCR产物。该产物经pGEM-T-easy克隆后测序，将所得序列进行比较分析。结果发现：不同毒株间pp38基因的启动子和增强子序列间有缺失突变，序列的同源性大于95．9％，其中大多数的突变发生在MDV复制的原点附近。     

荧光定量PCR检测Meq基因在马立克氏病病毒感染过程中的动力学变化

为探讨马立克氏病病毒强、弱毒株致癌基因Meq在感染过程中的变化规律,本研究用超强毒株RB1B与疫苗株CV1988分别感染次代鸡胚成纤维细胞（chicken embryo fiber cell,CEF）,用荧光定量PCR方法检测Meq的变化规律。结果发现,疫苗株CV1988的Meq在感染细胞内持续上调,而超强毒株RB1B的Meq在感染细胞内72h前为逐渐上调,然后下调;动物感染试验结果发现,超强毒株RB1B的Meq在鸡胸腺和脾脏组织内均表现为感染d21出现一个表达高峰,而疫苗株CV1988的Meq在SPF鸡胸腺q-d14出现高峰,然后下降。有趣的是CV1988的Meq在脾脏组织中d14表达最低,然后持续升高。本研究为进一步研究Meq在马立克氏病病毒感染过程中的致瘤机理提供重要资料。     

Protective efficacy of Marek's disease virus (MDV) CVI-988 CEF65 clone C against challenge infection with three very virulent MDV strains

Comparative 50% protective dose (PD50) assays were performed using a plaque-purified preparation of Marek's disease virus (MDV) strain CVI-988 at the 65th chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) passage level (MDV CVI-988 CEF65 clone C) and three commercial MD vaccines: herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) FC126, MDV CVI-988 CEF35, and a bivalent vaccine composed of HVT FC126 and MDV SB-1. In addition, comparative PD50 assays were performed in groups of chickens with maternal antibody to each of the three vaccines. Three representatives of the newly emerged biovariant very virulent (vv) MDV strains-RB/1B, Tun, and Md5-were employed as challenge virus. The experiments made feasible the differentiation between virulent MDV and vvMDV strains, within serotype 1. Vaccination with CVI-988 clone C vaccine resulted in PD50 estimates of about 5 plaque-forming units (PFUs) against challenge infection with each of the three vvMDV strains. The PD50 estimate of CVI-988 clone C vaccine was 12-fold below the PD50 of HVT FC126. The protective synergism of bivalent vaccine, composed of HVT and SB-1, was confirmed by groups given the lowest vaccine doses. The bivalent vaccine, however, resulted in incomplete protection in groups given the highest vaccine doses. Homologous maternal antibodies to serotype 1 caused a fivefold increase in the PD50 estimate of CVI-988 clone C. Heterologous maternal antibodies against HVT did not interfere with efficacy of CVI-988 clone C vaccination. However, the combination of maternal antibodies against both HVT and SB-1 (serotypes 2 and 3) showed a strong adverse effect on CVI-988 clone C vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

鸡马立克氏病三价疫苗的安全性及免疫效力研究

将MD三价疫苗以25000PFU／只的剂量颈部皮下接种1日龄SPF雏鸡，结果表明，疫苗的接种不影响鸡体重的增加；不引起鸡法氏囊、脾脏等组织器官发生MD组织病理学变化，对鸡安全无毒性。用SPF鸡评价MD三价疫苗的免疫效力，三批疫苗对RB1B超强毒株攻击的平均保护效力为95．99％，而且无论是用RB1B超强毒株还是用BJMDV-1血毒攻击，MD三价疫苗的保护效力明显高于HVT＋SB1二价疫苗及HVT冻干苗，好于CV1988疫苗；接种MD三价疫苗的4个品系的商品鸡群，抗RB1B超强毒株攻毒的平均保护效力为94．60％；在模拟MD强毒自然传染的试验中，MD三价疫苗的保护效力达到95．65％。上述效力试验的结果说明：MD三价疫苗的免疫接种可使鸡形成抗MD强毒攻击的坚强免疫力。     

Differential quantification of cloned CVI988 vaccine strain and virulent RB-1B strain of Marek’s disease viruses in chicken tissues, using real-time PCR

The ‘gold standard’ vaccine against Marek’s disease in poultry is the CVI988/Rispens virus, which is not easily distinguishable, antigenically or genetically, from virulent Marek’s disease herpesvirus. Accurate differential measurement of the CVI988 vaccine and virulent viruses is important to investigate mechanisms of vaccinal protection. Minimal sequence differences between CVI988 and virulent MDV strains restrict the application of molecular diagnostic methods such as real-time PCR to distinguish between these viruses. The use of bacterial-artificial-chromosome (BAC) cloned CVI988 virus, which carries the BAC vector sequences in place of the U_s2 gene, allows its differential quantification from virulent strains using real-time PCR assays that target the BAC vector sequence and the U_S2 gene respectively. These novel assays allowed investigation of replication of both serotype-1 vaccine virus (cloned CVI988) and challenge virus (RB-1B strain) in tissues of individual chickens in an experimental vaccination-challenge model of Marek’s disease.     

The efficacy of recombinant fowlpox vaccine protection against Marek's disease: its dependence on chicken line and B haplotype

Earlier studies have shown that the B haplotype has a significant influence on the protective efficacy of vaccines against Marek's disease (MD) and that the level of protection varies dependent on the serotype of MD virus (MDV) used in the vaccine. To determine if the protective glycoprotein gene gB is a basis for this association, we compared recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) containing a single gB gene from three serotypes of MDV. The rFPV were used to vaccinate 15.B congenic lines. Nonvaccinated chickens from all three haplotypes had 84%-97% MD after challenge. The rFPV containing gB1 provides better protection than rFPV containing gB2 or gB3 in all three B genotypes. Moreover, the gB proteins were critical, since the B*21/*21 chickens had better protection than chickens with B*13/*13 or B*5/*5 using rFPV with gB1, gB2, or gB3. A newly described combined rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32 + HVT vaccine was analyzed in chickens of lines 15 x 7 (B*2/*15) and N (B*21/*21) challenged with two vv+ strains of MDV. There were line differences in protection by the vaccines and line N had better protection with the rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32 + HVT vaccines (92%-100%) following either MDV challenge, but protection was significantly lower in 15 X 7 chickens (35%) when compared with the vaccine CVI988/Rispens (94%) and 301B1 + HVT (65%). Another experiment used four lines of chickens receiving the new rFPV + HVT vaccine or CVI988/Rispens and challenge with 648A MDV. The CVI 988/Rispens generally provided better protection in lines P and 15 X 7 and in one replicate with line TK. The combined rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32 + HVT vaccines protected line N chickens (90%) better than did CVI988/Rispens (73%). These data indicate that rFPV + HVT vaccines may provide protection against MD that is equivalent to or superior to CVI988/ Rispens in some chicken strains. It is not clear whether the rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32 + HVT vaccine will offer high levels of protection to commercial strains, but this vaccine, when used in line N chickens, may be a useful model to study interactions between vaccines and chicken genotypes and may thereby improve future MD vaccines.     

Serotype 1 viruses modified by backpassage or insertional mutagenesis: approaching the threshold of vaccine efficacy in Marek's disease

Improved vaccines to control Marek's disease (MD) in chickens are desired by the poultry industry but have been difficult to develop. Studies were conducted to evaluate strategies for deriving MD vaccines of high protective efficacy, irrespective of virulence. Candidate viruses from parent strains representing v and vv+ pathotypes were modified by cell culture passage, backpassage in chickens, or insertional mutagenesis following cocultivation with retroviruses. Ten strains considered most likely to exhibit high protective efficacy were selected for further study. The ability of these modified viruses to protect commercial or maternal antibody-positive (ab+) chickens against virulent MD virus (MDV) challenge was compared with that of strain CVI988, the standard commercial MD vaccine. Modified strains were also evaluated for the ability to induce lymphomas or other pathologic changes in ab+ and antibody-negative (ab-) chickens. Two of the 10 modified viruses, strains RM1 and CVI988/BP5, provided high levels of protection against highly virulent MDV challenge. The magnitude of protection was greater than that of one laboratory and two commercial preparations of CV1988, but was approximately equal to that of two other commercial preparations of CVI988 in laboratory and field tests. Three of the strains, including RMI and CVI988/BP5, induced lymphoid organ atrophy in ab-chicks but not in ab+ commercial chicks, a property designated here as L phenotype. Seven strains, including two L+ strains, were mildly oncogenic for ab- chicks, a property designated here as O phenotype. Five of these strains caused no tumors in ab+ chickens. The two fully attenuated strains induced neither lymphomas nor lymphoid organ atrophy. The L and O phenotypes appeared not to be linked, and both (especially the L phenotype) appeared associated with high levels of protection. These studies also illustrated differences in the protective efficacy of different preparations of CVI988 vaccine, indicating the need to choose carefully the most protective strains as controls for efficacy studies. A new vv+ strain, designated as 686, is described and appears useful as a challenge virus; it is the most virulent of the 48 field isolates of MDV thus far pathotyped in this laboratory. These findings support the conclusion that new virus strains with high levels of protective immunity comparable to that of CVI988 can be developed. However, the question of whether strains can be developed that exceed the efficacy of current CVI988-based vaccines remains unanswered. After more than 30 years of unsuccessful endeavor by many laboratories toward this goal, it now may be useful to consider whether the efficacy of MD vaccines is limited by some type of biologic threshold.