鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒VP3蛋白的原核表达及其B细胞抗原表位鉴定

为鉴定鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)VP3蛋白中的B细胞抗原表位,本研究将IBDV的VP3基因亚克隆于pET-28a中,构建了表达重组质粒pETVP3,经IPTG诱导在E.coli BL21(DE3)中表达了重组蛋白(rVP3).Western blot鉴定表明,rVP3能被IBDV抗血清特异性识别.同时,根据IBDV VP3的氨基酸序列,合成覆盖VP3全序列的重叠多肽,并与载体蛋白BSA藕联制备多肽人工结合抗原.Peptide-ELISA和Dot-ELISA检测结果表明VP3中有2个线性表位可以被已制备的单克隆抗体(MAb)识别,即~(728)PRDWDRLPYLNL~(739)和~(982)PKPKPKPNAPTQ~(993);Dot-ELISA结果显示,在VP3中还存在另外4个线性多克隆抗体识别位点:~(818)SLANAPQAGSKSQRA~(831),~(851)QREKD TIUSKKMETMGIYFATP~(872),~(876)ALNGHRGPSPGQLKYWQNTREI~(897)和~(961)QMKDLLLTAMEMK~(973).这些抗原表位的鉴定为开发IBD表位疫苗奠定了基础.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒JS株VP2基因真核表达载体的构建及其应用

应用RT-PCR方法从鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)JS株中扩增出VP2基因,并克隆入T-easy载体。序列测定分析结果表明IBDVJS株的VP2基因与国际标准强毒株的核苷酸序列同源性达98%,氨基酸序列同源性达99%以上。随后将VP2基因克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1/zeo( ),构建成功真核表达质粒pcD-VP2,pcD-VP2体外转染COS-1细胞,能在COS-1细胞中表达。利用pcD-VP2质粒进行动物实验,结果表明雏鸡免疫14d后在体内可检测到特异性抗体,pcD-VP2的真核表达质粒二次免疫诱导鸡产生对IBDV强毒攻击的保护率为67%,这一结果提示VP2基因具有重要开发应用价值。     

Comparative immunopathogenesis of mild,intermediate, and virulent strains of classic infectious bursal disease virus

Differences in the immunopathogenesis of several strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were compared. The strains included a virulent virus (IBDV-IM) and three vaccine viruses that included an intermediate vaccine virus (IBDV-B2) and two mild vaccine viruses (IBDV-Lukert and IBDV-BVM). The most significant differences were found in the systemic effects of these strains. In comparison with other strains, IBDV-IM antigen was detectable for up to 8 days postinfection (PI) in lymphoid tissues that included spleen and cecal tonsils, whereas only a few IBDV-B2- and IBDV-Lukert- and no IBDV-BVM-inoculated birds had detectable IBDV antigen in these tissues. IBDV-IM induced systemic circulating nitrite levels in over 86% of the birds at days 2 and 3 PI. IBDV-IM suppressed most vigorously the splenic mitogenic response on days 3-8 PI. Among the three vaccine strains, IBDV-B2 was the most virulent of the three, inducing a significant suppression of the mitogenic response (P < 0.05) and the most vigorous lesions in the bursa of Fabricius with the highest possible lesion score of 4 at 3 days PI (P < 0.05). IBDV-BVM was the mildest strain, not inducing any detectable lesions in lymphoid tissue at the tested time points. Whereas all IBDV-BVM-inoculated and 67% and 33% of the IBDV-Lukert- and IBDV-B2-inoculated birds, respectively, had detectable IBDV antigen in the bursa at 4 days postchallenge, none of the IBDV-IM-inoculated birds was positive for IBDV by immunohistochemistry. IBDV-IM induced the highest enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody levels detected at days 8-29 PI (P < 0.05) and the best protection against challenge virus replication in comparison with IBDV-B2 and IBDV-Lukert. Only one of five IBDV-BVM-inoculated birds developed anti-IBDV ELISA antibodies at 29 days PI, and none of the birds was protected against IBDV challenge. We speculate that better protection with more virulent strains was due to more systemic antigenic stimulation on the basis of higher replication of IBDV in extrabursal lymphoid tissues. Interestingly, IBDV-IM did not differ from IBDV-B2 and IBDV-Lukert in its ability to induce T cell accumulation in the bursa at 8 days PI and local interferon-gamma induction from days 2 to 5 PI. These results suggested that the local T cell events in the bursa alone may not be indicative of a rapid and protective immune response.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒VP2基因原核表达及抗原性分析

从辽宁省某鸡场分离到一株传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)。以该毒株基因组核酸为模板,应用RT-PCR扩增得到VP2基因,构建表达质粒pET28a-VP2,再将其转化至大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)用IPTG进行诱导表达。表达产物经SDS-PAGE分析在48ku处出现特异性蛋白条带;经Western blot分析VP2蛋白可以与IBDV阳性血清发生特异性反应。用VP2蛋白制备的油乳剂疫苗免疫接种SPF鸡,2周后体内可以检测到特异性抗体。证明VP2蛋白具有重要的应用价值,为IBDV基因工程亚单位疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

The role of T cells in protection by an inactivated infectious bursal disease virus vaccine

The current belief is that the humoral immune response plays the principal role in defense against virulent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). In this study we used a model, in which chickens were compromised in functional T cells by neonatal thymectomy and Cyclosporin A (TxCsA) treatment, to demonstrate the role of T cells in protective immunity against IBDV. We demonstrated that T cells were necessary to achieve full protection against virulent IBDV. When T cell compromised TxCsA-treated chickens were vaccinated with an inactivated IBDV (iIBDV) vaccine, 91% were not protected against IBDV challenge in comparison to T cell-intact chickens, which had a protection rate of 91%. The iIBDV vaccine induced virus neutralizing (VN) and ELISA antibodies, respectively, in 65 and 5% of TxCsA-treated, and in 100 and 58% of T cell-intact birds. These observations provide evidence that the stimulation of T helper cells is needed for the production of protective antibody levels in iIBDV-vaccinated chickens. Passive administration of VN anti-IBDV antibodies inducing a circulating antibody level of log(2)8 in chickens revealed that the levels of antibodies that protected T cell-intact chickens against virulent IBDV challenge were not protective for TxCsA chickens. These results indicated that antibody alone was not adequate in inducing protection against IBDV in chickens and that T cell-involvement was critical for protection. We propose that the inability of iIBDV to protect TxCsA chickens was due to compromised T cell immunity, functional T helper cells and most likely also cytotoxic T cells are needed in iIBDV vaccine protection.     

Protective immunity against infectious bursal disease virus in chickens in the absence of virus-specific antibodies

The role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in pathogenesis of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was investigated. One-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens were treated with 3mg of cyclophosphamide (Cy) per chicken for 4 consecutive days and, 3 weeks later, infected with the IBDV-IM strain. Chickens were examined for: (a) mitogenic response of splenocytes to ConA, as an indicator of T-cell functions in vitro, (b) antibody against IBDV by ELISA, (c) IBDV genome in various tissues by RT-PCR and (d) immunological memory. At the time of IBDV infection, Cy-treated chickens had depleted bursal tissue (an avian primary B-cell lymphoid organ), severely compromised antibody-producing ability, but normal T-cell response to ConA. In primary infection, no detectable antibody against IBDV antigen in Cy-treated, IBDV-infected chickens was observed up to 28 days post-infection (PI), while IBDV genome was detected by RT-PCR in spleen, thymus, liver and blood until 10 days PI. Like intact control chickens infected with IBDV, Cy-treated, IBDV-infected chickens suppressed splenocytes responses to ConA from 5 to 10 days PI, suggesting that intact control as well as Cy-treated chickens responded similarly to IBDV infection in the early phase. Following re-infection with IBDV, no detectable secondary antibody response to IBDV as well as IBDV genome in tissues were observed in Cy-treated chickens, while intact control chickens developed vigorous secondary antibody response. Similar to intact control chickens infected with IBDV, Cy-treated chickens after second infection with IBDV did not suppress splenocyte response to ConA. These results suggested that in the absence of detectable anti-IBDV antibodies, protection of Cy-treated chickens from IBDV infection may occur via immunological memory mediated by CMI. We concluded that under normal conditions, IBDV induces a protective antibody response, however, in the absence of antibody, CMI alone is adequate in protecting birds against virulent IBDV.     

Baculovirus virions displaying infectious bursal disease virus VP2 protein protect chickens against infectious bursal disease virus infection

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and contagious viral infection of young chickens caused by IBD virus (IBDV). The VP2 protein of IBDV is the only antigen for inducing neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity in the natural host. In the current study, we have succeeded in construction of one recombinant baculovirus BacSC-VP2 expressing His6-tagged VP2 with the baculovirus envelope protein gp64 transmembrane domain (TM) and cytoplasmic domain (CTD). The His6-tagged recombinant VP2 was expressed and anchored on the plasma membrane of Sf-9 cells, as examined by western blot and confocal microscopy. Immunogold electron microscopy demonstrated that the VP2 protein of IBDV was successfully displayed on the viral surface. Vaccination of chickens with the VP2-pseudotyped baculovirus vaccine (BacSC-VP2) elicited significantly higher levels of VP2-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibodies and neutralizing antibodies than the control groups. IBDV-specific proliferation of lymphocytes was observed in chickens immunized with the recombinant BacSC-VP2. An in vivo challenge study of the recombinant baculovirus BacSC-VP2 showed effective protection against a very virulent (vv) IBDV infection in chickens. In addition, mortality and gross and histopathological findings in the bursa demonstrated the efficacy of the vaccine in reducing virulence of the disease. These results indicate that the recombinant baculovirus BacSC-VP2 can be a potential vaccine against IBDV infections.     

Efficacy of VP2 protein expressed in E. coli for protection against highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus

The ability of a heat-inactivated whole virus from a highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus (hvIBDV) and VP2 protein from hvIBDV expressed in E. coli provided protection against a hvIBDV challenge in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Six out of seven chickens that were injected three times with crude VP2 protein developed significant antibody titer against IBDV. However, only four out of the seven chickens survived the hvIBDV challenge. Despite showing low antibody titer profiles, all chickens immunized with the heat-inactivated whole virus also survived the challenged with hvIBDV. However, all of these chickens had bursal atrophy and mild to moderate depletion of lymphocytes. Thus, antibodies raised against IBDV VP2 protein expressed in E. coli and denatured IBDV proteins induced some degree of protection against mortality but not against bursal damage following challenge with hvIBDV.     

表达传染性法氏囊病病毒VP2基因的重组鸡痘病毒的构建及其免疫保护性研究

以脂质体转染技术构建了表达鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒（ＩＢＤＶ）ＶＰ２基因的重组鸡痘病毒ＦＰＶ－ＶＰ２，该病毒在鸡胚成纤维细胞及鸡体内均能稳定产生子代病毒，经翅皮下５×１０５ＰＦＵ／羽免疫１日龄ＳＰＦ鸡，免疫后４周以１００ＬＤ５０／羽ＩＢＤＶ超强毒株Ｇ株攻毒，获得了５／６的保护，但不能有效预防临床发病及法氏囊受损萎缩。实验结果证明了ＶＰ２是ＩＢＤＶ的宿主保护性抗原，提示Ｔ细胞介导的免疫可能在ＩＢＤＶ的免疫中起着较为重要的作用。本研究为ＩＢＤＶ重组病毒疫苗研制进行了有益探索。     

Induction of protective immunity in chickens immunised with plasmid DNA encoding infectious bursal disease virus antigens

Direct DNA inoculations were used to determine the efficacy of gene immunisation of chickens to elicit protective immune responses against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The vp2 gene of IBDV strains GP40 and D78, and the vp2-vp4-vp3 encoding segment of strain D78 were cloned in an expression vector which consisted of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early enhancer and promoter, adenovirus tripartite leader sequences and SV40 polyadenylation signal. For purification of vaccine-quality plasmid DNA from E. coli, an effective method was developed. Chickens were vaccinated by inoculation of DNA by two routes (intramuscular and intraperitoneal). Two weeks later, chickens were boosted with DNA, and at 2 weeks post-boost, they were challenged with virulent IBDV strain. Low to undetectable levels of IBDV-specific antibodies and no protection were observed with DNA encoding VP2. However, plasmids encoding VP2-VP4-VP3 induced IBDV-specific antibodies and protection in the chickens. DNA immunisation opens a new approach to the development of gene vaccines for chickens against infectious diseases.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Bioinformatics Analysis of VP2 Gene of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus C4 Strain

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the virulence characteristics of infectious bursal disease virus(IBDV) C4 strain and its VP2 amino acid sequence. The RNA of IBDV C4 strain was extracted,and its VP2 gene was amplified by RT-PCR.VP2 nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acids of different virulent IBDV strains were compared. At the same time, prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a(+) was used to express the VP2 gene. The expression of recombinant VP2 protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The results showed that the VP2 gene of IBDV C4 strain belonged to the very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) in evolutionary relationship, the VP2 nucleotides homology between IBDV C4 strain and other vvIBDV strains were 98.1% to 98.7%, and there were no mutations in S-W-S-A-S-G-S (326-332 amino acids) and 222(A), 256(I), 294(I) and 299(S). The VP2 amino acid sequence of IBDV C4 strain was consistent with the characteristics of other vvIBDV strains. However, there were three differences amino acids sites at 201(D/G), 281(G/R) and 313(V/A) between the amino acids of the C4 strain and the very virulent strain UK661. And the change of 281(R) was in the small hydrophilic region of 279 to 290, which was related to the antigenicity of the virus; The recombinant VP2 protein molecular weight expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 was about 67 ku. This study provided a basis for further research on antigenic changes resulting from amino acid variation of 201(G), 281 (R) and 313(A). These results indicated that the VP2 gene of the IBDV C4 strain was consistent with the major characteristics of the vvIBDV strain VP2 gene. The difference of three amino acid sites in the vvIBDV strain C4 might be related to the evolution of virulence of IBDV strain in China.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒C4毒株VP2基因的原核表达及生物信息学分析

试验旨在研究一株传染性法氏囊病病毒（IBDV）河南分离株的毒力特征及其与VP2氨基酸序列特征的关系。通过提取IBDV C4株RNA,利用RT-PCR扩增其VP2基因,与其他不同毒力IBDV毒株进行核苷酸及推导的氨基酸序列比对分析,同时使用pET-32a（+）原核表达载体表达VP2基因,用SDS-PAGE和Western blotting检测重组VP2蛋白的表达。结果显示,扩增的IBDV C4株的VP2基因序列在进化关系上属于超强毒力IBDV（vvIBDV）分类,与选取的vvIBDV毒株代表毒株核苷酸序列同源性在98.1%~98.7%之间,其七肽区为S-W-S-A-S-G-S（第326-332位氨基酸）符合超强毒株特征,且222（A）、256（I）、294（I）和299（S）位氨基酸与超强毒力毒株的4个特征性氨基酸一致;但IBDV C4毒株的VP2蛋白氨基酸序列与超强毒力毒株代表毒株UK661相比,201（D/G）、281（G/R）、313（V/A）位氨基酸不同,其中281位氨基酸的改变处于279-290的小亲水区内,与病毒抗原性有关;构建的pET-32a（+）-VP2原核表达载体在大肠杆菌BL21感受态细胞上表达出分子质量约67 ku的重组VP2蛋白,为进一步比较201（G）、281（R）、313（A）位氨基酸差异导致的抗原特性改变提供了研究基础。本试验结果表明,IBDV C4株VP2基因与vvIBDV毒株VP2基因的主要特性一致,但也有3处氨基酸与代表毒株UK661存在差异,这些改变可能与中国IBDV毒株毒力的进化有关。     

Viral protein 1 sequence analysis of three infectious bursal disease virus strains: a very virulent virus, its attenuated form, and an attenuated vaccine

Comparisons between sequences of very virulent, virulent, and attenuated strains of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) may indicate sites on the genome co-inciding with virulence. In an attempt to detect if such sites exist on the coding region of segment B, viral protein 1 (VP1) (encoded for by segment B) of a very virulent Israeli virus, IL3; its attenuated strain, IL4; and the attenuated Winterfield vaccine 2512 were cloned and sequenced. A comparison was made among them and with six other published sequences of segment B. Six nucleic acids distinguished between IL3 and IL4, three of which were predicted to be expressed as amino acids. A striking similarity between the VP1 sequences of 2512 and P2 (an attenuated German strain) was discovered. Although conclusions could not be drawn concerning attenuation sites on VP1, the analysis performed on the VP1 sequences of the two Israeli strains and the Winterfield 2512 strain sheds light on the phylogeny of IBDV and contributes to the accumulating information that may lead to the identification of virulence-related sites of this virus.     

Correlation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers with protection against infectious bursal disease virus.

We examined the utility of baculovirus-expressed infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) proteins to act as antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The three IBDV protein antigens tested included 1) a truncated VP2, 2) whole VP2, and 3) the polyprotein products VP2, VP3, and VP4. Serum samples from 2-wk-old commercially reared broilers were collected and tested in the three ELISAs. Serum samples were obtained from 34 different commercial broiler flocks. An average of 14 serum samples (range = 11-17) were tested for each flock. The ELISA results were compared with the percentage of protection of these birds following challenge with IBDV. Fifty 2-wk-old chicks from each of the 34 broiler flocks were challenged with STC classic virus or Del-E variant virus. At 7 days postchallenge, the bursa from each of the birds was removed and bursa/body weights were recorded. Percentage of protection was determined by the number of birds in each challenge group that had normal relative bursal weights compared with unchallenged controls. No evidence was found of a relationship between ELISA data generated with the polyprotein antigen (VP2, VP3, VP4) and percentage of protection observed in the STC and Del-E challenged birds. A significant relationship was found between ELISA data and percentage of protection to STC and Del-E when the truncated VP2 or whole VP2 antigens were used in the ELISA. The results of this study indicate that predicting the percentage of protection against classic or variant IBDV strains in broilers from vaccinated breeder flocks can be improved when VP2 is used as the only antigen in the ELISA.     

Protection against infectious bursal disease virulent challenge conferred by a recombinant avian adeno-associated virus vaccine

The development and use of recombinant vaccine vectors for the expression of poultry pathogens proteins is an active research field. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a replication-defective virus member of the family Parvoviridae that has been successfully used for gene delivery in humans and other species. In this experiment, an avian adeno-associated virus (AAAV) expressing the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP2 protein (rAAAV-VP2) was evaluated for protection against IBDV-virulent challenge. Specific pathogen free (SPF) birds were inoculated with rAAAV-VP2 or with a commercial intermediate IBDV vaccine and then challenged with the Edgar strain. IBDV-specific antibody levels were observed in all vaccinated groups; titers were higher for the commercial vaccine group. The live, commercial vaccine induced adequate protection against morbidity and mortality; nevertheless, initial lymphoid depletion and follicular atrophy related to active viral replication was observed as early as day 14 and persisted up to day 28, when birds were challenged. No bursal tissue damage due to rAAAV-VP2 vaccination was observed. Eight-out-of-ten rAAAV-VP2-vaccinated birds survived the challenge and showed no clinical signs. The bursa:body weight ratio and bursa lesion scores in the rAAAV-VP2 group indicated protection against challenge. Therefore, transgenic expression of the VP2 protein after rAAAV-VP2 vaccination induced protective immunity against IBDV challenge in 80% of the birds, without compromising the bursa of Fabricius. The use of rAAAV virions for gene delivery represents a novel approach to poultry vaccination.     

检测传染性法氏囊病病毒VP4蛋白抗体试纸条的研制及应用

采用RT-PCR技术从滨州分离株中扩增出传染性法氏囊病病毒(infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV)VP4基因,将VP4基因插入到pGEX-4T-1载体上构建pGEX-4T-1-VP4,诱导表达并用谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)亲和层析柱纯化得到纯化的重组VP4蛋白。以兔抗鸡IgG为胶体金标记物,以重组IBDV VP4蛋白和羊抗兔IgG为硝酸纤维素膜检测线和质控线的包被物,制备一种能检测IBDV VP4蛋白抗体的胶体金试纸条。结果表明,该试纸条检测IBDV强毒(IBDV BC6/85)免疫的血清检测线显红色,为阳性反应;检测IBDV弱毒(IBDV NB)免疫的血清、新城疫病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV)标准阳性血清、禽流感H5和H9标准阳性血清、传染性支气管炎标准阳性血清及0.85%生理盐水检测线不显红色,为阴性反应。该试纸条与建立的ELISA方法相比,敏感度低2个滴度;检测320份临床血清,试纸条与ELISA的符合率达99.38%。提示,该试纸条使用方便、操作简单,10 min内可以用肉眼判断结果,可为区分IBDV的强弱毒提供参考数据,具有较大的应用价值。     

传染性法氏囊病病毒主要结构蛋白VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1串联基因的原核表达及其初步应用

为获得传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)特异性抗体检测用抗原VP2、VP1及VP2-VP1蛋白,分别设计引物扩增IBDV野毒株NN1172的VP2和VP1基因,并扩增VP2和VP1基因中抗原性和亲水性较好的重要区域,通过PCR扩增基因串联方法对截短的VP2和截短的VP1基因进行串联,首次获得VP2-VP1串联基因,并对VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1串联基因进行了原核表达和鉴定。结果成功构建了原核表达载体pET-VP2、pET-VP1和pET-VP2-VP1;诱导表达条件显示,3个重组质粒分别转入BL21菌株后经0.05 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达,分别得到分子量为69、114和63 kDa的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1重组蛋白,且均以包涵体形式表达,3个重组蛋白分别于诱导后5、3和6 h时表达量最多。Western blot结果显示,表达的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1蛋白与鸡抗IBDV阳性血清均具有良好的反应原性。以纯化的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1蛋白作为包被抗原对传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)、呼肠孤病毒(ReoV)、禽白血病病毒(ALV)和新城疫病毒(NDV)4种阳性血清检测均为阴性,表明所获得的纯化蛋白具有高度的特异性;对免疫了IBD灭活疫苗,IBD基因工程疫苗和IBD弱毒疫苗的商业鸡群进行抗体检测,结果均能显示疫苗免疫后机体抗体水平的变化趋势。本研究表明利用该原核表达系统所表达的3个蛋白均具有良好的免疫反应活性,为IBDV特异性抗体的检测和新型亚单位疫苗的研发奠定基础。     

一株传染性法氏囊病病毒强毒株的分离与鉴定

鸡传染性法氏囊病是由传染性法氏囊病病毒引起的一种急性传染病。本研究从江苏某疑似发生传染性法氏囊病的鸡场采集病料,通过观察临床症状、病理变化、RT-PCR检测、基因测序、SPF鸡胚接种、琼脂扩散试验和雏鸡攻毒等试验,证实了该鸡群发生了传染性法氏囊病,且分离到一株传染性法氏囊病病毒(JSXY株),该病毒有较强的致病力,VP4基因比较分析发现其与变异株亲缘关系最近,序列同源性为95%。本研究为江苏地区传染性法氏囊病的防治提供了有益的参考。     

Chicken B lymphoma DT40 cells as a useful tool for in vitro analysis of pathogenic infectious bursal disease virus

Susceptibility of DT40 cells to pathogenic field strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) including very virulent and classical virulent strains were studied. After the first and second passage of the virus in DT40 cells, IBDV-specific antigen was readily detected in DT40 cells inoculated with the pathogenic field strain infected bursal homogenates. Nucleotide sequence analysis in the VP2 hypervariable domain, which is critical for the virulence of IBDV, revealed no common amino acid substitutions among the pathogenic IBDVs in accordance with the propagation in DT40 cells. These results indicate that DT40 cells are a useful tool for rapid isolation of pathogenic field strains and successive in vitro analysis of IBDV.