Transfection of chicken embryo fibroblasts with Marek's disease virus DNA

Total DNA from Marek's disease virus (MDV)-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts was transfected into freshly plated secondary chicken embryo fibroblasts using calcium phosphate-mediated transfection. Transfection frequencies were dose-dependent and non-linear. The maximum transfection frequencies of nine MDV DNA preparations using 8-25 micrograms total DNA ranged from 45 to 898 plaques per calcium phosphate/DNA precipitate. Approximately 100-200 plaques per 60-mm tissue-culture dish using 1-5 micrograms total DNA from MDV-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts were typically obtained. Transfection was most efficient when the pH of the HEPES buffer was 7.0, no additional carrier DNA was added to the precipitates, and the cultures were exposed for 3 minutes to 15% buffered glycerol 4 hours after the addition of the calcium phosphate/DNA precipitates.     

Early cell-mediated immune responses to Marek's disease virus in two chicken lines with defined major histocompatibility complex antigens

N2a and P2a chickens, resistant and susceptible to Marek's disease (MD), respectively, were used to examine relationships between major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK)-like cell activity with resistance to infection with Marek's disease virus (MDV). Ten-day-old chickens were infected with MDV and euthanatized at selected times to evaluate for NK cell and MHC-restricted cytotoxicity. The N2a MDV-infected chickens had an early cell-mediated immune response characterized by a sustained NK-like cytotoxicity that coincided with a measurable MHC-cytotoxicity that was lower than controls. Although MHC-restricted and NK cell cytotoxicity was demonstrated in P2a MDV-infected chickens at 8 dpi, both abruptly decreased and remained low for the remainder of the 20-day experiment. The critical time point that may determine the resistance to MD appears to be within the first 2 weeks post-infection. Improvement of the chicken NK cell activity may be a good candidate for both selection and immunomodulation MD control programs.     

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.     

感染MDV鸡羽髓组织中CyP、LASP1和PCBP1蛋白的表达分析

本实验室前期的蛋白质组学研究显示,鸡羽髓组织中亲环素蛋白(CyP)、LIM和SH3蛋白1(LASP1)和多聚胞嘧啶结合蛋白1(PCBP1)3种蛋白为马立克氏病病毒(MDV)感染过程中差异表达蛋白。为进一步检测这3种蛋白在病毒感染过程中的表达水平,本研究以MDV GA强毒株感染SPF鸡,应用荧光定量PCR和westernblot检测病毒感染14 d和21 d后这3种蛋白在羽髓组织中的表达水平。检测结果表明,病毒感染14 d后,羽髓组织中这3种蛋白的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均有不同程度的下调,其中LASP1 mRNA和PCBP1蛋白分别下调62%和48%(p<0.05);在21 d,除CyP蛋白表达基本不变外,其他mRNA和蛋白均不同程度下调,其中LASP1蛋白下调达到46%(p<0.05)。结果表明在两个不同的MDV感染时期,MDV均可以不同程度的抑制羽髓组织中这3种蛋白的表达,本研究为进一步阐释MDV与羽髓组织的相互作用机理提供有价值的参考。     

Marek's disease virus infection in the brain: virus replication, cellular infiltration, and major histocompatibility complex antigen expression

Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection in the brain was studied chronologically after inoculating 3-week-old chickens of two genetic lines with two strains of serotype I MDV representing two pathotypes (v and vv+). Viral replication in the brain was strongly associated with the development of lesions. Three viral antigens (pp38, gB, and meq) were detected in the brain of infected chickens. Marked differences between v and vv+ pathotypes of MDV were identified for level of virus replication, time course of brain lesions, and expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. Two pathologic phenomena (inflammatory and proliferative) were detected in the brain of chickens inoculated with vv+MDV, but only inflammatory lesions were observed in those inoculated with vMDV. Inflammatory lesions, mainly composed of macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells, started at 6-10 days postinoculation (dpi) and were transient. Proliferative lesions, characterized by severe infiltrates of CD4+CD8- T cells (blasts), started at 19-26 dpi and persisted. Expression of MHC antigens in endothelial cells and infiltrating cells within the brain was influenced by MDV infection. Upregulation of MHC class II antigen occurred in all treatment groups, although it was more severe in those inoculated with vv+MDV. MHC class I antigen was downregulated only in those groups inoculated with vv+MDV. These results enhance our understanding of the nature and pattern of MDV infection in the brain and help to explain the neurovirulence associated with highly virulent MDV.     

Influences of major histocompatibility complex class I haplotypes on avian influenza virus disease traits in Thai indigenous chickens

Natural infections with influenza viruses have been reported in a variety of animal species including humans, pigs, horses, sea mammals, mustelids and birds. Occasionally, devastating pandemics occur in domestic chickens (broiler and layers) and in humans. From November 2003 to March 2004 in many countries in Asia, there were outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza virus, causing death of infected patients, and devastating the poultry industry. Some groups of Thai indigenous chickens survived and were therefore classified as resistant. These traits were related to immunogenetics, in particular, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules. The chicken MHC class I were investigated as candidate genes for avian influenza virus disease resistance. Seven hundred and thirty Thai indigenous chickens from smallholder farms in the rural area of avian influenza virus disease outbreaks in the central part of Thailand were used in the present study. They were separated into two groups, 340 surviving chickens and 390 dead chickens (resistant and susceptible). Genomic DNA were precipitated from blood samples and feathers. The DNA were used to amplify the MHC class I gene. Data were analyzed using χ² analysis to test significant differences of influences of MHC class I haplotypes on avian influenza virus disease traits. The results represented nine MHC class I haplotypes: A1, B12, B13, B15, B19, B21, B2, B6, and BA12, and included 10 of their heterozygotes. The homozygous B21 from these collected samples had a 100% survival rate and they were the major survival group. In addition, the heterozygous B21 also had a high survival rate because of co‐dominant expression of these genes. In contrast, the homozygous B13 had a 100% mortality rate and they were the major mortality group. These results confirmed that MHC class I haplotypes influence avian influenza virus disease‐resistant traits in Thai indigenous chicken. The MHC genes can be used as genetic markers to improve disease‐resistant traits in chicken.     

慢病毒介导的RNAi靶向NDVP基因抑制其在CEF上的复制

通过研究慢病毒介导的RNA干扰靶向新城疫病毒P基因抑制其在鸡胚成纤维细胞上的复制,从而为新城疫病毒的抗病毒研究奠定基础。①针对NDVP基因设计siRNA干扰序列,构建慢病毒（lentivirus）介导的RNAi重组载体;②携带有siRNA表达元件重组慢病毒包装及其滴度测定;③包装后重组慢病毒接种CEF细胞并接毒NDV,48h分别进行Realtime RT-PCR和NDV滴度测定,并观察细胞病变情况。结果表明,本研究针对NDVNA-1株P基因2个RNAi靶位（位于开放阅读框的641和827位）设计的RNAi641和RNAi-827,对病毒复制具很强的抑制效果,且641位的重要性大于827位．     

Enhancement by interferon of chicken splenocyte natural killer cell activity against Marek's disease tumor cells

A non-immune natural killer-type cell population (NK) from 6-to 12-week old chickens was able to kill MSB-1 Marek's disease (MD) tumor cells in vitro; as measured by the 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay. Removal of T cells, B cells, adherent cells, or any combination of the three populations of cells did not result in diminished levels of cytotoxicity of the remaining spleen cells against MSB-1 cells. The cytotoxicity of chicken NK cells could be rapidly augmented by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) and by the Cal 11914 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), but not by the TCND strain of NDV which is not an interferon (IFN) inducer, indicating that IFN play a role in augmentation of the NK activity in chickens.     

Interaction of Marek's disease virus and Cryptosporidium baileyi in experimentally infected chickens

Histocompatible B13/B13 white specific-pathogen-free leghorn chickens were used to investigate the effect of coinfection with Cryptosporidium baileyi and the HPRS 16 strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) in chickens and to assess the pathogenicity of C. baileyi when MDV is given before or after the parasite. Groups of chickens concurrently infected with C. baileyi orally inoculated at day (D)4 and MDV inoculated at hatching (C4M0 group) or at D8 (C4M8 group) were compared with relevant control groups inoculated with only C. baileyi at D4 (C4 group), only MDV at hatching (M0 group) or at D8 (M8 group), and an uninoculated control group (UC group). The chickens were kept in isolator units until the end of the experiment at D62. Our results showed a considerable synergistic effect in concurrently infected chickens and more severe consequences when chickens received MDV before C. baileyi infection. In fact, except for a slight transitory weakness, the chickens in C4 group remained free of overt clinical signs and there was no mortality. However, coinfection with both pathogens induced more lasting or permanent oocyst shedding. Severe clinical cryptosporidiosis with weakness, anorexia, depression, growth retardation, and chronic and severe respiratory disease causing death occurred in all chickens in the C4M0 group between D12 and D43 and in 67% of the chickens in the C4M8 group between D17 and D57. Eighty-two percent and 33%, respectively, died before the development of specific Marek's disease lesions. Mortality rates were 27% and 33% in the M0 and M8 groups, respectively. The presence of MDV enhanced the establishment of more lasting cryptosporidial infection in the respiratory tract, esophagus, crop, proventriculus, and kidneys (only in C4M0 group) as well as in bursa of Fabricius, ceca, and cloaca. Serologic analysis showed that chickens with chronic cryptosporidiosis in the C4M8 group had an increased level of C. baileyi-specific immunoglobulin A. Our results may explain some cases of mortality in chickens naturally infected with MDV and Cryptosporidium.     

鸽新城疫病毒在鸡胚上的增殖动态

采用红细胞凝集试验（HA），通过对鸽新城疫病毒（NDV）在鸡胚上增殖动态的研究表明，ND－gs01病毒经尿囊腔接种9－10日龄鸡胚、24h内病毒处于“掩蔽期”，24h后开始增殖，72h左右鸡胚死亡。新城疫病毒在尿囊膜、羊膜、尿囊液、羊水中含量较高，增殖动态趋于一致。卵黄、胚体中含量较低。上述结果，为该病毒的进一步研究和应用提供了科学依据。     

新城疫病毒在鸡胚中增殖特性的研究

本研究将接种到9～10日龄鸡胚中的鸡新城疫病毒(NDV)La Sota或V4株弱毒培养24h,病毒滴度可增加106以上,培养108 h,病毒滴度则增加至10 10倍以上.NDV在有NDV母源抗体的普通鸡胚与无抗体的SPF鸡胚中的增殖无显著差异;盲传对于检验NDV没有意义.La Sota或V4株病毒悬液在理论上稀释至每胚接种量只有数个或1个病毒时,仍可引起鸡胚感染.低毒量条件下固定病毒的数量,随着接种胚数的增加,感染率随之下降,但感染数在一定范围内波动,没有减少趋势.以上结果证实数个甚至1个活的NDV粒子即可引起鸡胚感染,这对现地检测NDV具有重要意义.     

Persistence of inclusions and antigens of chicken anemia virus in Marek's disease lymphoma

The pathogenesis of the co-infection of CAV to MDV is complicated. In order to investigate the impact of CAV on the transformation phase of MD, MDV and, subsequently, CAV, were inoculated at 1day and 4weeks of age, respectively. Chickens were divided into six groups; vvMDV, vvMDV-CAV, vMDV, vMDV-CAV, CAV and a control group. The CAV inclusions and antigens were continuously detected in MD lymphomas in the vMDV-CAV and vvMDV-CAV groups in large bizarre-shape (presumably CD4(+) T cells) and small MD lymphoid cells (presumably CD8(+) T cells). The MD lymphomas were composed primarily of CD4(+) T cells, but CD8(+) T cells were infiltrated singly or in clusters. CAV enhanced the MDV-induced brain lesions in the vMDV-CAV group. The lymphoproliferative lesion (LP) in the vvMDV-CAV and vMDV-CAV groups was non-significantly higher than those in vvMDV and vMDV groups, respectively. CAV significantly increased the LP lesion in sciatic nerves. In conclusion, MD lymphomas enabled CAV replication and dissemination. The depletion of CTLs by CAV did not significantly affect progression of MD lymphoma, although they are essential for possible transition of lymphomatous to inflammatory lesion.     

鸡马立克氏病病毒感染对鸡神经系统损伤的研究

为研究不同毒力的鸡马立克氏病毒(MDV)在鸡神经系统中的感染规律及其对神经系统的损伤进程,本研究选用不同毒力的血清1型MDV (MDV-1)病毒株感染4日龄的SPF鸡,在接毒后1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d、10 d、14 d、17 d、21 d、25 d、28 d和35 d动态检测病毒载量的变化,并对感染后5 d和21 d的不同病毒株感染鸡的脑部和坐骨神经进行组织病理学观察。结果显示,MDV-1强毒株在SPF鸡脑部的复制能力显著高于弱毒株(p<0.05);特超强病毒株BS在脑组织中出现的时间最早,早期复制最快。但不同毒力的MDV-1株在坐骨神经处的复制能力与其毒力无直接的关系。组织病理学观察显示,在感染早期MDV-1强毒株对SPF鸡脑组织的损伤强于弱毒株;在感染后21 d,强毒株和弱毒株造成的脑部损伤存在明显的不同;而在坐骨神经处,强毒株造成的损伤明显强于弱毒株。本研究揭示了不同MDV病毒株在SPF鸡脑和坐骨神经的复制动力学特征和组织病理学特征,为MDV-1在宿主神经系统中的感染、增殖及造成的损伤提供了实验依据。     

鸡马立克氏病病毒在鸡淋巴细胞和羽髓中的复制动力学分析

马立克氏病（MD）是由鸡马立克氏病病毒血清1型（MDV1）引起的鸡高度接触性淋巴细胞增生性疾病,MDV1在体内的复制状况与其致病性强弱及传播能力直接相关。本实验选择近几年从国内不同地区MD暴发鸡场分离的6株MDV1强毒株、弱毒疫苗“814”株和国内标准MDV1强毒J-1株,分别人工感染SPF鸡,采用双重实时荧光定量PCR（FQ—PCR）方法,检测感染后1d～28d病毒在淋巴细胞和羽髓中的复制状况。结果显示,接种1d后即可在淋巴细胞中检测到MDV1（10^2.6 copies～10^5.2 copies／10^6 cells）;在检测期间,淋巴细胞中病毒载量略有上升的趋势,总体呈现不规律变化,而且变化并不明显。接种7d后羽髓中病毒载量开始显著增加,14d～21d达到峰值,超强毒株峰值处病毒载量可达到10^7 copies／10^6 cells,峰值期病毒载量是感染前期（1d～7d）的100～10000倍。强毒株在体内的病毒载量高于弱毒株,即复制能力高于弱毒株。研究表明,MDV1国内流行的毒株有增殖速度快,病毒载量高的新特点;MDV1致病性的高低与在其在体内的复制能力的高低呈正相关。     

Indications of immunodepression in chickens infected with various strains of Marek's disease virus

The effect of infection by various strains of Marek's disease virus (MDV) on the immune function of 3-week-old chickens was examined. MDV strains of low (CU-2, RB-7) and high (RB-3, MD-5, and MD-11) pathogenicity were compared with prototype JM-10 strain of moderate pathogenicity. Mortality, whole body weight, relative weights of lymphoid organs, histopathology, humoral antibody responses to thymus-dependent and -independent antigens, and in vitro lymphocyte responses to mitogen stimulation were investigated at 1, 2, and 3 weeks postinfection. MDV strains of high pathogenicity significantly depressed responses at 3 weeks postinfection, seeming to indicate the ability of these viruses to induce severe immunodepression. However, the fact that the moderately pathogenic and even some of the low-pathogenicity strains induced immunodepression suggests that other viral mechanisms are also important in its determination.