Vaccination against Marek's disease reduces telomerase activity and viral gene transcription in peripheral blood leukocytes from challenged chickens.
We investigated whether telomerase activity and viral gene transcription were associated with protection against the RB-1B strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) in chickens vaccinated with Rispens CVI988 or the herpes virus of turkey (HVT). Telomerase activity in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) seemed to be an appropriate marker of lymphoma and levels of viral transcription were correlated with the virulence of MDV strains. Vaccinated protected birds had lower levels of telomerase activity and RB-1B viral gene transcription than unvaccinated chickens infected with RB-1B. The decrease in RB-1B viral transcription was more marked in chickens vaccinated with CVI988 than in those vaccinated with HVT. Indeed, RB-1B viral transcription was not detectable after 14 days post-challenge. In conclusion, telomerase activity and gene transcription in challenge MDV strains are potential new reliable criteria of protection in vaccinated chickens.
Debba-Pavard
Manel
M
Equipe Télomérase et Lymphome Viro-Induit Unité IASP1282, INRA, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
Ait-Lounis
Aouatef
A
Soubieux
Denis
D
Rasschaert
Denis
D
Dambrine
Ginette
G
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D025922:Mardivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D022501:Marek Disease Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D022501:Marek Disease Vaccines; D019098:Telomerase