Molecular analysis of endogenous avian leukosis/sarcoma virus genomes in Korean chicken embryos.
Since the status of endogenous avian leucosis/sarcoma virus (ALSV) infections in Korean broiler chickens is unclear, this study examined embryonated eggs obtained from broiler farms and Korean native chicken breeds in Korea using PCR with the primer sets specific for endogenous ALSVs. The PCR assays detected the genomes of EAV, ev, ev/J and ART-CH belonging to the endogenous ALSV from all embryos tested. Phylogenetically, the Korean EAV genomes were more closely related to the prototype EAV-0 than to the other prototype, E51. The Korean ART-CH elements clustered together but were distinct from the prototype ART-CH clones, 5 and 14. Although there was comparatively little divergence in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the Korean ev and ev/J genomes compared with the other known ev and ev/J genomes, the Korean genomes had phylogenetically distinct branches. From these results, endogenous genomes are quite prevalent in Korean broiler chickens. In addition, the endogenous genomes circulating in Korean broiler chickens are genetically different from the other known endogenous genomes. These results are expected to provide useful information for the control and establishment of a surveillance system for endogenous ALSVs in Korea.
Kim
You-Jung
YJ
Bio-Therapy Human Resources Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Japan.
Park
Sang-Ik
SI
Park
Su-Jin
SJ
Kim
Ha-Hyun
HH
Jung
Yong-Wun
YW
Kwon
Jung-Taek
JT
Jang
Byoung-Gui
BG
Kim
Hak-Kue
HK
Cho
Kyoung-Oh
KO
D001355:Alpharetrovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D016679:Genome, Viral; D007723:Korea; D010802:Phylogeny