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.     

The detection of the meq gene in chicken infected with Marek's disease virus serotype 1

In the genome of strains of very virulent Marek's disease virus serotype 1(vvMDV1), such as Md5 and RB1B, the meq open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 339-amino-acid bZIP protein, is present, while a slightly longer meq ORF, termed as L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the meq ORF is found in other strains of MDV1, such as CV1988/R6 and attenuated JM. When chickens were infected with vvMDV1 strains and the meq gene was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the meq gene was detected throughout the experimental period for 7 weeks post inoculation (pi). However, the L-meq gene was also detected at 3 to 5 weeks and 3 to 4 weeks pi. in Md5-infected and RB1B-infected chickens, respectively. In the case of chickens infected with an attenuated MDV1, the JM strain, the L-meq gene was detected at 2 to 7 weeks pi., and the meq gene was also detected at 2 to 6 weeks pi. Both L-meq and meq genes were detected in chickens infected with an attenuated nononcogenic vaccine strain of MDV1 (CVI988/R6), throughout the experimental period. Though quantitative PCR was not performed, a larger amount of the PCR products corresponding to the L-meq than the meq gene was amplified from chickens infected with JM or CVI988/R6. These results suggest that a dynamic population shift between the MDV subpopulations displaying meq and L-meq genes occurs in chickens during the course of MDV infection. Since the MDV subpopulation that displays the L-meq gene only displays it during the latent phase, the L-meq and its gene product, if any, might contribute to the maintenance of the MDV latency.     

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.     

Identification and characterization of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) ICP22 gene product: MDV1 ICP22 transactivates the MDV1 ICP27 promoter synergistically with MDV1 ICP4

A previous report [Virus Genes 6 (1992) 365-378] has shown that the US1 gene of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) encodes a homologue of herpes simplex virus type 1 infected cell protein No. 22 (ICP22). In the present study, we expressed and identified a product of the MDV1 US1 gene in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) with the aid of a recombinant baculovirus expressing a Flag epitope-tagged MDV1 US1 gene, under control of the SRalpha promoter (composed of the enhancer region of the simian virus 40 early promoter and the R region of the human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 long terminal repeat). In CEF infected with the recombinant baculovirus, MDV1 ICP22 was specifically and efficiently expressed in the presence of n-butyric acid. The apparent M(r) of the expressed protein was 30,000. Reporter gene assays revealed that MDV1 ICP22 by itself transactivated an MDV1 ICP27 promoter/reporter construct weakly but specifically, and furthermore, worked synergistically with MDV1 ICP4 to efficiently up-regulate the MDV1 ICP27 promoter. MDV1 ICP22 may be a regulatory protein that stimulates viral promoters in co-operation with other viral regulatory proteins such as MDV1 ICP4.     

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.     

New serotype 2 and attenuated serotype 1 Marek's disease vaccine viruses: comparative efficacy

Attempts were made, through selection of optimum viral strains, to develop improved vaccines against Marek's disease (MD). Seven attenuated serotype 1 strains and 22 avirulent serotype 2 strains, both alone and in combination with the FC126 strain of serotype 3, were screened for protective efficacy against challenge with virulent and very virulent MD viral strains. The three viruses selected as most promising were evaluated alone and in various combinations and compared with commercially available vaccines, including FC126, bivalent (FC126 + SB-1), and CV1988/C, in 12 separate assays. Two of these new viruses--301B/1 (serotype 2) and Md11/75C/R2 (serotype 1)--were exceptionally protective compared with prototype vaccine strains. Four new monovalent and polyvalent vaccines based on these two isolates protected chickens better than FC126 alone or CV1988/C alone. Three of these new vaccines provided better protection than the bivalent (FC126 + SB-1) vaccine. Protective synergism was noted commonly between viruses of serotypes 2 and 3 but only sporadically between serotypes 1 and 2 or between serotypes 1 and 3. Strain CVI988/C was protective but was no better than FC126 alone, and it was less effective than bivalent (FC126 + SB-1) vaccine, even when used as a bivalent vaccine with FC126 or SB-1.     

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.     

潜伏期马立克氏病病鸡血清Ⅰ型病毒L-meq、meq基因的比较及遗传分析

从潜伏期感染马立克氏病病毒(MDV)鸡淋巴组织中提取基因组DNA,采用梯度PCR的方法获得MDV的L-meq、meq基因,将其插入pMD18-T克隆载体,经测序并进行了序列分析.结果表明,L-meq、meq基因同源性很高,L-meq中只有180 bp与meq不同.但是采用同样的方法在发病期病鸡淋巴组织中却只能获得MDV的meq基因.为了进一步研究发病期L-meq基因消失的原因,试验对L-meq、meq基因的氨基酸序列的结构域进行了分析.结果表明,L-meq基因中含有9个PRR(proline-rich-reapts)区域,meq中含有6个PRR区域,从而推断PRR区域可能与基因的转录激活及调控病毒DNA复制的功能有关,该180 bp插入序列也许能解释初期感染MDV不致瘤的原因,同时也意味着L-meq基因对于潜伏期的维持是必要的.     

潜伏期马立克氏病病鸡血清I型病毒L—meq、meq基因的比较及遗传分析

从潜伏期感染马立克氏病病毒（MDV）鸡淋巴组织中提取基因组DNA，采用梯度PCR的方法获得MDV的L—meq、meq基因，将其插入pMD18-T克隆载体，经测序并进行了序列分析。结果表明，L—meq、meq基因同源性很高，L—meq中只有180bp与meq不同。但是采用同样的方法在发病期病鸡淋巴组织中却只能获得MDV的meq基因。为了进一步研究发病期L—meq基因消失的原因，试验对L—meq、meq基因的氨基酸序列的结构域进行了分析。结果表明，L—meq基因中含有9个PRR（proline—rich—reapts）区域，meq中含有6个PRR区域，从而推断PRR区域可能与基因的转录激活及调控病毒DNA复制的功能有关。该180bp插入序列也许能解释初期感染MDV不致瘤的原因，同时也意味着L—meq基因对于潜伏期的维持是必要的。     

New serotype 2 and attenuated serotype 1 Marek's disease vaccine viruses: selected biological and molecular characteristics

Two new Marek's disease vaccine viruses, Md11/75C/R2 (serotype 1) and 301B/1 (serotype 2), were evaluated in chickens with maternal antibodies (ab+) or without maternal antibodies (ab-). Strain Md11/75C/R2 was mildly pathogenic in ab--chickens, but this pathogenicity was markedly reduced in ab+ chickens. Md11/75C/R2 spread less by contact and replicated better, both in vivo and in vitro, than CVI988/C, another serotype 1 vaccine virus. Strain 301B/1 was similar to SB-1, another serotype 2 vaccine virus: both were nonpathogenic for ab--chickens, spread readily by contact, and replicated well in vivo. In vitro, 301B/1 grew more rapidly and produced larger plaques than SB-1. Notable characteristics of strain CVI988/C included absence of pathogenicity, poor replicative ability, and the absence of one epitope detected by a common serotype-1-specific monoclonal antibody. All four viruses could be distinguished from each other by restriction enzyme analysis of viral DNA. We conclude that Md11/75C/R2, although exceptionally protective, may require further attenuation. On the other hand, 301B/1, which in other studies induced higher levels of protection than SB-1, is nonpathogenic and may be considered for use as a commercial vaccine.     

黄羽父母代种鸡混合感染禽白血病病毒与马立克病病毒的鉴定

广西某养殖场130日龄父母代种鸡发生临床肿瘤样病变和死亡,对病鸡采用病理解剖、组织病理学观察、PCR检测、病毒分离以及分离株重要基因的序列测定和病原鉴定。结果显示:病鸡的心脏、肝脏、脾脏等部位表现有肿瘤样病变; PCR检测及病毒分离培养有J亚群禽白血病病毒(avian leukosis virus subgroup J,ALV-J)和马立克病病毒(Marek's disease virus,MDV)的感染; ALV-J分离株env基因的序列与10株ALV-J参考株的核苷酸相似性为87. 2%～97. 7%,与ALV A-E亚型参考株的相似性为53. 5%～54. 7%;与ALV-J英国原型株HPRS-103的env基因糖基化位点进行分析比较,部分糖基化位点发生了改变; MDV分离株meq基因序列与8株MDV参考株的核苷酸相似性为98. 7%～99. 4%,分离株在第71～80位氨基酸发生突变,符合国内强毒分离株的特征。结果说明:该鸡群为ALV-J和MDV的混合感染。     

Induction of strong protection by vaccination with partially attenuated serotype 1 Marek's disease viruses

Studies were conducted to better understand the relationship among Marcek's disease (MD) vaccine strains between induction of protective immunity and the degree of attenuation (or virulence). To obtain viruses at different stages of attenuation, very virulent plus MD strains 584A and 648A and selected clones of these strains were serially passaged in chicken and duck cells. These viruses were considered fully attenuated after passage for 70-100 times in chicken embryo cell cultures until they no longer induced gross lesions in susceptible, maternal antibody-negative (ab-) chickens. Lower passages of the same strains were considered partially attenuated, provided their virulence was less than that of the parent strain. Four of five partially attenuated preparations derived from MD virus strains 584A and 648A or the previously attenuated Md11 strain induced 28%-62% higher levels of protection in maternal antibody-positive (ab+) chickens against virulent MD challenge than the fully attenuated counterpart viruses. The partially attenuated 584A/d2/3 strain replicated in chickens but was totally nonprotective. Data from two subsequent trials in ab+ chickens confirmed that protection induced by the partly attenuated (passage 80) preparations was 79% and 118% higher, respectively, than that induced by the fully attenuated (passage 100) preparations of strain 648A. However, in one trial with ab- chickens, no difference in protection between partially and fully attenuated virus was observed. Strong protection (up to 85%) against highly virulent challenge also was provided by preparations of 648A at passages 40-60, which were moderately oncogenic when used alone. Partially attenuated strains tended to replicate to higher titers in both ab+ and ab- chickens compared with fully attenuated vaccines. Also, ab+ and ab- chickens vaccinated with partially attenuated strains developed three- to nine fold more extensive microscopic lesions in peripheral nerves at 14 and 22 days after virulent challenge than chickens vaccinated with fully attenuated strains. When measured in ab+ chickens, loss of lesion induction by 648A was achieved 30 passages earlier (at passage 70) than when measured in ab- chickens. Thus, maternal antibodies appeared to abrogate the pathogenicity of some partially attenuated strains. These studies establish for MD the principle that at least some partially attenuated MD viruses may replicate better and induce stronger immunity against virulent challenge than fully attenuated preparations of the same strain, at least when tested in ab+ chickens. Moreover, depending on passage level, partially attenuated vaccine strains may be relatively innocuous for ab+ chickens, causing few or no lesions.     

不同代次缺失meq基因的重组马立克病毒SC9-1株主要基因序列同源性分析

分析缺失meq基因的重组马立克病病毒SC9-1原代、10代及40代主要基因序列的同源性。提取缺失meq基因的重组马立克病病毒SC9-1原代、10代及40代DNA,设计引物PCR扩增其与致瘤相关pp38基因、缺失meq基因后残余的FRT位点序列及囊膜蛋白基因gB、gC、gD、gE、gH、gI、gK,连接pMD18-T载体,转化DH5α感受态细胞,挑取阳性克隆进行测序,DNAStar软件对3代次各基因片段进行同源性比对。不同代次SC9-1病毒株的致瘤相关pp38基因、残留FRT位点序列及囊膜蛋白基因gB、gC、gD、gE、gH、gI、gK的核苷酸序列同源性均为100%,核苷酸序列差异性分析结果显示序列完全一致,无位点上的变化。缺失meq基因的重组马立克病病毒SC9-1在鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)上的传代过程中其致瘤相关pp38基因、残留FRT位点序列及囊膜蛋白基因gB、gC、gD、gE、gH、gI、gK没有发生变异,侧面反映了SC9-1在CEF细胞传代过程中具有很好的遗传稳定性。     

Comparative analysis of Marek's disease virus (MDV) glycoprotein-, lytic antigen pp38- and transformation antigen Meq-encoding genes: association of meq mutations with MDVs of high virulence

Marek's disease (MD) is a highly contagious lymphoproliferative and demyelinating disorder of chickens. MD is caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV), a cell-associated, acute-transforming alphaherpesvirus. For three decades, losses to the poultry industry due to MD have been greatly limited through the use of live vaccines. MDV vaccine strains are comprised of antigenically related, apathogenic MDVs originally isolated from chickens (MDV-2), turkeys (herpesvirus of turkeys, HVT) or attenuated-oncogenic strains of MDV-1 (CVI-988). Since the inception of high-density poultry production and MD vaccination, there have been two discernible increases in the virulence of MDV field strains. Our objectives were to determine if common mutations in the major glycoprotein genes, a major lytic antigen phosphoprotein 38 (pp38) or a major latency/transformation antigen Meq (Marek's EcoRI-Q-encoded protein) were associated with enhanced MDV virulence. To address this, we cloned and sequenced the major surface glycoprotein genes (gB, gC, gD, gE, gH, gI, and gL) of five MDV strains that were representative of the virulent (v), very virulent (vv) and very virulent plus (vv+) pathotypes of MDV. We found no consistent mutations in these genes that correlated strictly with virulence level. The glycoprotein genes most similar among MDV-1, MDV-2 and HVT (gB and gC, approximately 81 and 75%, respectively) were among the most conserved across pathotype. We found mutations mapping to the putative signal cleavage site in the gL genes in four out of eleven vv+MDVs, but this mutation was also identified in one vvMDV (643P) indicating that it did not correlate with enhanced virulence. In further analysis of an additional 12 MDV strains, we found no gross polymorphism in any of the glycoprotein genes. Likewise, by PCR and RFLP analysis, we found no polymorphism at the locus encoding the pp38 gene, an early lytic-phase gene associated with MDV replication. In contrast, we found distinct mutations in the latency and transformation-associated Marek's EcoRI-Q-encoded protein, Meq. In examination of the DNA and deduced amino acid sequence of meq genes from 26 MDV strains (9 m/vMDV, 5 vvMDV and 12 vv+MDVs), we found distinct polymorphism and point mutations that appeared to correlate with virulence. Although a complex trait like MDV virulence is likely to be multigenic, these data describe the first sets of mutations that appear to correlate with MDV virulence. Our conclusion is that since Meq is expressed primarily in the latent/transforming phase of MDV infection, and is not encoded by MDV-2 or HVT vaccine viruses, the evolution of MDV virulence may be due to selection on MDV-host cell interactions during latency and may not be mediated by the immune selection against virus lytic antigens such as the surface glycoproteins.     

马立克氏病病毒致弱毒株的致病性及致瘤相关基因序列分析

为培育及鉴定马立克氏病病毒(MDV)致弱病毒株,本研究将4株现地流行MDV强毒株(L-ZY、L-CZ、L-MS和L-SY株),在体外经CEF连续传代至110代,获得相应的4株高代次病毒株(L-ZYp 110C、L-CZp110C、L-MSp110C和L-SYp110C株).其中的L-MSp110C和L-SYp110C株对SPF鸡的致病性试验结果显示:以2×103 pfu和2×104 pfu的剂量接种1日龄SPF鸡,在试验期(12周)内试验鸡均没有引起马立克氏病病变;高代次病毒株在体外增殖能力增强,而在体内增殖能力显著低于亲本病毒株.与亲本病毒株基因序列比对发现:4株高代次病毒株病毒基因组中Meq和RLORF 12基因均有不同程度的缺失和插入;132 bpr序列拷贝数均显著增加;其中3株病毒株的RLORF4基因存在大片段缺失.以上结果表明,MDV强毒株体外传代至110代后,病毒增殖能力和主要致瘤相关基因的遗传特性均发生了改变,致弱毒株的毒力已完全弱化.该研究为进一步筛选MD弱毒疫苗提供了实验依据.     

Trials with Marek's disease vaccines prepared from a turkey herpes virus and an attenuated Marek's disease virus.

In field trials involving over 224,000 fowls in 11 different commercial flocks, three vaccines were used, namely a freeze-dried vaccine prepared from a turkey herpes virus, a cell-associated virus vaccine prepared from the same isolate and a cell-associated vaccine prepared from a strain of Marek's disease virus isolated from a fowl. The mortality from Marek's disease was reduced by 80 per cent to 95 per cent in birds vaccinated with the freeze-dried vaccine. Cell associated vaccines gave slightly less protection.