Forensic investigation of a 1986 outbreak of osteopetrosis in commercial brown layers reveals a novel avian leukosis virus-related genome

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is known to cause several neoplastic conditions in chickens, such as B-cell lymphomas, myelocytomas, erythroblastosis, and other types of neoplasia including osteopetrosis. We describe herein the identification of unique ALV-related proviral DNA sequences in an archived chicken bone affected with osteopetrosis. The osteopetrotic bone was obtained from an affected 46-week-old brown layer during an outbreak of osteopetrosis in Costa Rica in 1986. Analysis of proviral DNA in the 23-year-old osteopetrotic bone revealed unique exogenous ALV-related sequences that were named CR-1986 (Costa Rica, 1986). The 5' and 3' long terminal repeats (LTR) in the proviral DNA were identical to each other. The U3 regions in the LTRs were most similar to equivalent sequences in ALV-J, while U5 was identical to known endogenous ALV-E sequences. The predicted CR-1986 envelope protein was most similar to the envelope of myeloblastosis associated virus type 1 (MAV-1), although the percentage of amino acid sequence similarity to MAV-1 was low (90.4%). The variable and hypervariable regions of gp85 displayed several mutations compared to representative strains of ALV. The gp37 (transmembrane or TM) envelope protein showed three leucine to serine mutations that may represent important changes in the conformation of this protein, a finding that is currently being investigated. Several recombination events may have contributed to the emergence of CR-1986 because each analyzed segment was similar to a different ALV. CR-1986 may represent a unique ALV based on distinctive characteristics of its predicted envelope protein in comparison to previously reported ALVs.     

广西凭祥斗鸡禽白血病病毒检测及分离株env基因分析

为了解广西凭祥市特有家禽品种斗鸡禽白血病病毒(ALV)的感染情况,采集了该市3个鸡场斗鸡的肛拭子、血清、血浆样品共344份,用禽白血病ELISA检测试剂盒进行检测。结果显示,斗鸡ALV感染情况严重,其中肛拭样品ALV-p27抗原阳性率高达39.13%,血清样品病毒分离阳性率为12.97%,ALV-J和ALV-A/B抗体阳性率分别为22.39%和7.46%;对从2只斗鸡获得的病毒分离株DJ-3-18和DJ-45进行病毒囊膜蛋白基因env的扩增、序列测定及比较分析,结果显示2株病毒的gp85基因与ALV-A亚群参考株之间氨基酸的同源性为88.2%~96.5%,gp37基因与ALV-A亚群参考株之间氨基酸的同源性为91.4%~98.0%,其中与台湾A亚群蛋鸡源分离株TW-3577的亲缘关系最近,而与ALV其他亚群毒株的同源性则较低。结果表明,首次获得的2株斗鸡源ALV分离株属A亚群。     

Isolation and characterization of an adventitious avian leukosis virus isolated from commercial Marek's disease vaccines

Commercial Marek's disease (MD) vaccines produced by two manufacturers were tested for possible contamination with avian leukosis virus (ALV). Samples of MD vaccines manufactured by two companies (A and B) were received from a breeder company; samples were also received directly from vaccine company B. Using virus isolation tests, samples initially tested positive for subgroup E (endogenous) ALV. However, upon repassage, the vaccines also tested positive for exogenous ALV. The isolated exogenous ALV proved to be a subgroup A virus, as determined by flow cytometry using polyclonal chicken antibodies specific for various subgroups of ALV, and by DNA sequencing of the envelope glygoprotein (gp85). The exogenous ALV isolated from MD vaccines was inoculated in chickens from ADOL lines 15I(5) x 7(1) and 0 to determine its pathogenicity and compare it with that of Rous-associated-virus-1 (RAV-1), the prototype strain of ALV-A. Each chicken from each line was inoculated with approximately 10,000 infectious units of RAV-1 or the ALV-A isolated from vaccines termed B-39 virus at 7th day of embryonation. At hatch, and at 4, 8, and 16 wk of age, chickens were tested for viremia and cloacal shedding; chickens were also observed for ALV-induced tumors within 16 wk of age. Viremia and cloacal shedding results suggest that chickens from both lines were susceptible to infection with either virus. Within 16 wk of age, the proportion of ALV tumors induced by strain B-39 in line 0 and line 15I5 x 7(1) chickens was 0% and 12%, respectively, compared with 62% and 67% in chickens inoculated with RAV-1. The data indicate that commercial MD vaccines produced by two manufacturers were contaminated with endogenous subgroup E and an exogenous subgroup A ALV. Further, data from biological characterization suggest that the ALV-A isolated from commercial MD vaccines is of low oncogenicity, compared with that of RAV-1. GenBank accession numbers: The gp85 gene sequences of ALV isolated from commercial Marek's disease vaccines have been deposited in GenBank and assigned the following accession numbers: A46 subgroup A, DQ412726 ; B53 subgroup A, DQ412727; A46 subgroup E, DQ412728; B53 subgroup E, DQ412729.     

禽白血病病毒囊膜基因gp85片段的克隆与鉴定

用ＰＣＲ从禽白血病病毒（Avian Leukosis Virus,ALV)RAV-1,RAV-2感染或未感染的ＳＰＦ鸡胚成纤维细胞（ＣＥＦ）分别扩增出１．２kb囊膜基因片段，分别将上述ＰＣＲ产物的KpnⅠ／SaⅡ酶切片段克隆到质粒pGEM-3zf( )中得到３个重组子即pGEM-3zf-RAV-1env、pGEM-3zf-RAV-2env和pGEM-3zf-Eenv。酶切分析和序列测定结果表明克隆的ＰＣＲ片段分别来自ＡＬＶ ＲＡＶ－１，ＲＡＶ－２和内源生Ｅ亚群病毒，这为病毒囊膜基因gp85的表达及个体鸡遗传抗性的鉴定打下基础。     

禽白血病-肉瘤病毒的RT-PCR检测

应用RT-PCR对2株禽白血病病毒（ALV）和1株劳斯肉瘤病毒（RSV）进行了检测试验.试验提取了病毒RNA,并使用3对ALVgp85基因引物对其进行了反转录、扩增,从而建立了ALV-RSV RT-PCR.使用无相关性的禽RNA和DNA病毒进行特异性试验和使用ALV进行的敏感性试验表明,该方法是一种快速、特异、敏感的体外试验,可用于禽源病毒种毒和疫苗中ALV和RSV的污染检测.     

血管瘤禽白血病病毒FJ0610株的分离与鉴定

为了解禽白血病病毒在商品蛋鸡中的流行情况,试验采用病理剖检、聚合酶链式反应(PCR)以及间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)等方法对送检的疑似禽白血病病毒感染的商品蛋鸡进行了病毒分离与鉴定,并对分离株的致瘤相关基因gp85基因进行测序,与国内外各亚群禽白血病病毒进行对比。结果表明:分离、鉴定到1株J亚群血管瘤禽白血病病毒,命名为FJ0610;分离株gp85基因核苷酸序列同源性在11.5%～94.5%之间,其中与血管瘤禽白血病毒株ZH-08株同源性最高,而与E亚群毒株同源性最低;基于gp85核苷酸序列的系统进化分析表明FJ0610株的gp85序列与ZH-08株的亲缘关系最近。     

Development of a polymerase chain reaction to differentiate avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroups: detection of an ALV contaminant in commercial Marek's disease vaccines

Avian leukosis viruses (ALVs) are common in many poultry flocks and can be detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or any other test designed to identify p27, the group-specific antigen located in gag. However, endogenous retroviruses expressing p27 are often present and can be confused with exogenous ALVs. A more specific and informative assay involves targeting the variable envelope glycoprotein gene (gp85) that is the basis for dividing ALVs into their different subgroups. We designed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that would specifically detect and amplify viruses from each of the six ALV subgroups: A, B, C, D, E, and J. Subgroup B and D envelopes are related, and our B-specific primers also amplified subgroup D viruses. We also designed a set of common primers to amplify any ALV subgroup virus. To demonstrate the usefulness of these primers, we obtained from the Center for Veterinary Biologics in Iowa culture supernatant from chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with an ALV that was found to be a contaminant in two commercial Marek's disease vaccines. Using our PCR primers, we demonstrate that the contaminant was a subgroup A ALV. We cloned and sequenced a portion of the envelope gene and confirmed that the ALV was a subgroup A virus. Unlike typical subgroup A viruses, the contaminant ALV grew very slowly in cell culture. We also cloned and sequenced a portion of the long terminal repeat (LTR) from the contaminant virus. The LTR was found to be similar to those LTRs found in endogenous ALVs (subgroup E) and very dissimilar to LTRs normally found in subgroup A viruses. The E-like LTR probably explains why the contaminant grew so poorly in cell culture.     

1株E亚群禽白血病病毒的分离鉴定及遗传进化分析

E亚群禽白血病病毒（ALV-E）是指存在于鸡染色体中的内源性逆转录病毒基因组DNA或片段。具有转录活性的ALV-E既会对鸡的生产性能（体重和产蛋率）产生负面影响，又能从抗体水平干扰对外源性ALV的鉴别诊断。为对黑龙江省某鸡场内一禽白血病病毒RT-PCR阳性病料进行病毒分离鉴定及分析其基因组特征和遗传进化情况，通过分子生物学、病毒形态学及全基因组序列测定方法对病毒培养物进行鉴定和分析，结果显示，该分离株可在CEF细胞盲传至第9代，电镜下可观察到近似球形、直径约为80 nm，并具有囊膜和纤突结构的病毒粒子，将其命名为HLJE2020株。序列分析结果显示，其全基因组序列中的gag和pol基因相对保守，LTR和env基因与ALV-E同属一个进化分支，而gp85基因则与ALV-E和ALV-B均具有较高相似性，遗传进化分析显示在ALV-E和ALV-B间出现一个单独的分支，结合RDPv.4和SimPlot软件分析结果，推测该毒株gp85基因可能存在E亚群AF229株与B亚群SDAU09C1株的重组现象。本研究为了解禽白血病病毒基因组遗传演化情况提供数据资料，并为ALV的防控提供参考和依据。     

一例A亚型禽白血病病毒引起的纤维肉瘤的病理学和病毒学分析

将禽白血病A亚型（Avian leukosis virus subgroup A,ALV-A）SDAU09C3毒株人工感染SPF引起的肾脏和肝脏纤维细胞样肉瘤进行病理组织学观察,同时检测是否有其它肿瘤相关病毒感染,另外,应用PCR扩增病毒囊膜蛋白gp85基因,并对其基因编码的氨基酸序列与原攻毒株比较分析。结果显示,SDAU09C3毒株引起的肿瘤,主要为纤维细胞肉瘤,胶原纤维较少,细胞及纤维排列极不规则。病毒学检测证明发病鸡只存在ALV-A的感染,而ALV-J、马立克氏病病毒（Marek＇s disease virus,MDV）、网状内皮增生症病毒（Reticuloendotheliosis virus,REV）均为阴性。所分离的ALV-A病毒的囊膜蛋白gp85基因编码的氨基酸序列与原攻毒株同源性为99.5%。     

Detection and characterization of avian leukosis virus in Marek's disease vaccines

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) infection in chickens is known to induce increased mortality, tumors, delayed growth, and suboptimal egg production. Countries importing specified pathogen-free eggs, vaccines, and poultry breeding stock require freedom of infection or contamination with ALV in such products among other avian pathogens. Recently, ALV was found as a contaminant in a limited number of commercial poultry vaccines, even after routine quality assurance procedures cleared the vaccines for commercialization. The contaminated vaccines were promptly withdrawn from the market, and no direct detrimental effects were reported in poultry vaccinated with such vaccines. We describe herein the characterization in vitro of the contaminant viruses. All exogenous viruses detected in four vaccine lots belong to subgroup A of ALV based on cell receptor interaction, subgroup-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), envelope gene sequencing, and virus neutralization. A combination of thermal treatment and serial dilutions of the contaminated vaccines facilitated detection of contaminating ALVs in cell culture coupled with antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subgroup-specific PCR readily detected ALV-A directly in the contaminated vaccines but not in naive vaccines or cell controls. Our methods are proposed as complementary procedures to the currently required complement fixation for avian leukosis test for detection of ALV in commercial poultry vaccines.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to subgroup J avian leukosis virus.

In an attempt to develop a specific diagnostic test for avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroup J (ALV-J) strain Hc1, four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), JE9, G2, 145, and J47, were generated that are specific for ALV-J envelope glycoprotein, gp85. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify genomic pro-viral DNA of Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL)-Hc1 and ADOL-4817 envelope genes. Both open reading frames encoding glycoproteins gp85 and gp37 were cloned into baculoviruses. Abundant expression of gp85 and gp37 was detected in the recombinant viruses with specific antibody to Hc1 strain of the ALV-J. The expressed proteins were used for immunization of mice to produce hybridoma cell lines secreting MAbs specific to ALV-J envelope protein. A panel of MAbs was generated by fusing NS1 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with the recombinant baculoviruses. With the use of an immunofluorescence assay, three MAbs (JE9, G2, 145) reacted with ALV-J but not with subgroups A, B, C, D, or E of ALV. MAb J47 reacted with all exogenous subgroups of ALV including A, B, C, D, and J but not with endogenous subgroup E viruses. Western blot analysis was performed with all four MAbs against recombinant baculovirus and Hc1-infected chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) lysates. A major band with a molecular weight about 90 kD corresponding to the size of ALV-J envelope was consistently obtained. With these MAbs, we detected the Hc1 antigen in CEFs infected with several ALV-J viruses isolated in the United States and also in tissue sections from chickens infected with Hc1 strain of ALV-J. These MAbs will be useful reagents for the diagnosis of ALV-J infection because they recognize a common antigenic epitope in six isolates tested thus far.     

AA肉种鸡内源性类ALV-J gp85基因及其抗原表位的分析

利用ALV-J gp85基因两侧的序列片段为引物,从山东潍坊某肉种鸡场送检的7日龄肉种鸡基因组中完整地扩增了内源性类ALV-J gp85基因。利用ALV-J env基因特异性引物不能扩增出长度为2.2kb的目的片段,用ALV-J特异性单抗JE-9做间接免疫荧光检测,也呈现阴性反应。这种内源性类ALV-J gp85基因与已报道的禽内源性反录病毒EAV-HP序列的同源性为85.6%～93.8%,其中与ADOL 0系来航鸡EAV-HP的相似性最高(93.8%)。所得到的内源性类ALV-J gp85基因与外源性ALV-J毒株HPRS-103、SD07LK1、NX0101的同源性分别为93.8%、91.8%和91.7%。并且与外源性ALV-J gp85基因具有相似的Jameson-Worlf抗原表位优势。这种内源性类gp85基因很可能与肉雏鸡早期感染ALV-J后所呈现的免疫耐受现象有关。     

不同亚群禽白血病病毒5'LTR序列及启动子活性分析

对不同亚群禽白血病病毒(avian leukosis virus,ALV) 5'LTR序列及其启动子活性进行了比较分析,以探讨LTR对ALV复制和致病力的影响。通过PCR分别扩增克隆了中国分离株GD08(ALV-A)、CD08(ALV-B)、HN06(血管瘤病变型ALV-J)和NX0101(骨髓瘤病变型ALV-J)毒株基因组5'LTR片段。与国内外不同亚群ALV分离株5'LTR核苷酸序列比较发现,NX0101株和HN06株与ALV-J国内外分离株的同源性最高,达90.8％~97.5％;GD08株与ALV-A国内分离株SDAU09C1的同源性最高,为94.6％;CD08株与GD08株和ALV-J各株的同源性高达90％以上。LTR中的R区具有较高的保守性,但CD08株U3区缺失11 bp,GD08株U5区与其它毒株的U5区差异较大。将LTR片段插入到pCAT-Basic载体的CAT报告基因前,通过转染DF-1细胞和测定CAT表达量来评价LTR的启动子活性。HN06株和NX0101株之间,以及GD08株和CD08株之间LTR启动子活性有差异,但差异不显著;而ALV-J毒株与GD08株和CD08株之间的LTR启动子活性差异显著。     

Molecular and biological characterization of a naturally occurring recombinant subgroup B avian leukosis virus with a subgroup J-like long terminal repeat

Infection of broiler chickens with subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV) results in the induction of myeloid tumors. However, although egg-type chickens are susceptible to infection with ALV-J, the tumor incidence is very low, and on rare occasions the tumors observed are of the myeloid lineage. We recently described the isolation of an ALV (AF115-4) from commercial egg-type chickens suffering from myeloid leukosis. AF115-4 was initially identified as an ALV-J isolate based on PCR analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR). However, further characterization of the viral envelope indicated that the virus is recombinant with subgroups B envelope and J LTR. Here we further characterize this recombinant virus at both the molecular and biological levels. We show that the AF115-4 isolate expresses a recombinant envelope glycoprotein encoded by a subgroup B gp85 region and a subgroup E gp37 region. The host range ofAF115-4 was analyzed using cells resistant to infection by subgroups A/B, J, or E; this shows that no ALV-J was present in the isolates obtained from the affected chickens. Additional antigenic characterization of AF115-4 using chicken sera specific for subgroups B or J indicated that no ALV-J was present in the samples examined. Inoculation of AF 115-4 into ALV-susceptible 1515 X 71 chickens resulted in the induction of lymphoid leukosis but not the expected myeloid leukosis affecting the commercial chickens. These results suggest that differences in the genetic makeup of the chickens from which AF115-4 was isolated and the line 1515 X 71 used in the present experiments may be responsible for the observed differences in pathogenicity. In addition, the results suggest that ALV-J continues to evolve by recombination, generating new viruses with different pathological properties.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to subgroup A avian leukosis virus

Avian leukosis virus subgroup A (ALV‐A) is a retrovirus which infects egg‐type chickens and is the main pathogen of lymphoid leukosis (LL) and myeloid leukosis (ML). In order to greatly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of clinical avian leukemia, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ALV‐A were developed by fusion between SP2/0 and spleen cells from mice immunized with expressed ALV‐A env‐gp85 protein. Using immunofluorescence assay (IFA), two MAbs reacted with ALV‐A, but not with subgroups B and J of ALV. Western blot tests showed that molecular weight of ALV‐A envelope glycoprotein recognized by MAbs was about 53 kD. Isotyping test revealed that two MAbs (A5C1 and A4C8) were IgG1 isotypes. These MAbs can be used for diagnosis and epidemiology of ALV‐A.     

地方品种HR土鸡不同亚型禽白血病病毒的共感染

为研究HR土鸡中存在的不同亚型禽白血病病毒(ALV)共感染的情况,本实验分别采集46只HR土公鸡的泄殖腔棉拭子和455枚鸡蛋卵白样品,采用ELISA试剂盒检测p27抗原;并采用相应的ELISA试剂盒分别检测卵黄中J亚型ALV(ALV-J)和AB亚型ALV(ALV-AB)抗体。结果表明:HR土公鸡泄殖腔棉拭子样品中p27检出阳性率为87%(40/46),卵白检出率为74.7%(340/455);而卵黄中ALV-J和ALV-AB抗体阳性率分别为0(0/30)和80%(24/30)。无菌采集初步筛选p27抗原检测为阳性的5只HR土公鸡的抗凝血接种CEF,采用抗ALV-J和ALV-A的单克隆抗体进行IFA检测,结果显示5份样品中ALV-A和ALV-J的阳性率均为100%(5/5)。同时选取HR土鸡分离株HR332进行PCR扩增鉴定,结果表明分离株HR332存在ALV-J(HR332J)和ALV-A(HR332A)。其中,HR332J与11株ALV-J国内外参考株的同源性为92.4%～97.9%;HR332A与ALV-A参考株RSA-A、MQNCSU的同源性分别为90.1%和89.7%,与国内分离株SDAU09E2的同源性为99.0%。本研究显示,地方品种HR土鸡存在不同亚型ALV共感染,同时ALV-A和ALV-J共感染同一个鸡的现象已经存在。     

七彩山鸡F亚群禽白血病病毒的分离与鉴定

为了解广东某七彩山鸡种禽场禽白血病流行情况,通过接种DF-1细胞、ELISA抗原检测、聚合酶链式反应(PCR)、囊膜基因克隆测序等方法分离并鉴定出两株ALV-F,分别命名为FGD1801和FGD1802。为进一步了解分离株遗传进化特点,利用PCR方法扩增出env基因并测序,同时与各亚群参考毒株的gp85核苷酸序列进行对比。结果显示:这两个分离株env基因gp85片段长度都为1080 bp,预计编码360个氨基酸,FGD1801和FGD1802分离株gp85基因核苷酸序列的相似性为92.8%,与A、B、E、J和K亚群共26株ALV参考毒株相似性在47.0%~64.5%之间,而与F亚群参考株的相似性在92.0%~92.5%,显著高于其他亚群,且位于同一进化分支上。研究表明,从七彩山鸡分离的FGD1801和FGD1802属于ALV-F,是我国华南地区新发现的ALV亚群。     

Are endogenous feline leukemia viruses really endogenous?

Full length endogenous feline leukemia virus (FeLV) proviruses exist within the genomes of many breeds of domestic cat raising the possibility that they may also exist in a transmissible exogenous form. Such viruses would share receptor usage with the recombinant FeLV-B subgroup, a viral subgroup that arises in vivo by recombination between exogenous subgroup A virus (FeLV-A) and endogenous FeLV. Accordingly, all isolates of FeLV-B made to date have contained a "helper" FeLV-A, consistent with their recombinatorial origin. In order to assess whether endogenous viruses are transmitted between cats, we examined primary isolates of FeLV for which the viral subgroup had been determined for the presence of a subgroup B virus that lacked an FeLV-A. Here we describe the identification of two primary field isolates of FeLV (2518 and 4314) that appeared to contain subgroup B virus only by classical interference assays, raising the possibility of between-host transmission of endogenous FeLV. Sequencing of the env gene and U3 region of the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) confirmed that both viral genomes contained endogenous viral env genes. However the viral 3' LTRs appeared exogenous in origin with a putative 3' recombination breakpoint residing at the 3' end of the env gene. Further, the FeLV-2518 virions also co-packaged a truncated FeLV-A genome containing a defective env gene, termed FeLV-2518(A) whilst no helper subgroup A viral genome was detected in virions of FeLV-4314. The acquisition of an exogenous LTR by the endogenous FeLV in 4314 may have allowed a recombinant FeLV variant to outgrow an exogenous FeLV-A virus that was presumably present during first infection. Given time, a similar evolution may also occur within the 2518 isolate. The data suggest that endogenous FeLVs may be mobilised by acquisition of exogenous LTRs yielding novel viruses that type biologically as FeLV-B.     

Myotropic avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection in a chicken

The study describes a highly productive myotropic avian leukosis virus infection (ALV) in a 3-month-old female chicken. At necropsy, ascites, hepatic fibrosis and cardiomegaly were seen. Histologically, the most striking lesion was the presence of cytoplasmic basophilic inclusions in myocardial fibers. Immunostaining for ALV group specific antigen p27 revealed a diffuse presence of virus antigen in cardiac myofibers, in smooth muscle fibers of most of the organs, and in rare, pancreatic and ovarian theca cells. Ultrastructurally, myocardial inclusions consisted of clusters of 50-60 nm round particles with interspersed ribosome-like granules. Numerous C-type particles were found in intercellular spaces of ALV p27 positive tissues. PCR analyses revealed the presence of both ALV-E and ALV-J related sequences. In chicken genome, ALV-E is usually present as endogenous provirus therefore, the pathological findings observed in this case are considered to be related with the ALV-J infection. The results of this report further confirm that ALV-J may be responsible for highly productive myotropic infections.