title: Functional evaluation of the role of reticuloendotheliosis virus long terminal repeat (LTR) integrated into the genome of a field strain of Marek's disease virus.
abstract: MDV-GX0101 is a field strain of Marek's disease virus with a naturally occurring insertion of the reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) LTR fragment. In order to study the biological properties of REV-LTR insertion in the MDV genome, we constructed a full-length infectious BAC clone of MDV-GX0101 strain and deleted the LTR sequences by BAC mutagenesis. The pathogenic properties of the LTR-deleted virus were evaluated in infected SPF birds. The study demonstrated that the LTR-deleted virus had a stronger inhibitory effect on the growth rates of the infected birds and induced stronger immunosuppressive effects. Surprisingly, however, the ability for horizontal transmission of the LTR-deleted virus appeared to be significantly weaker than its parental LTR-intact virus. Even though the precise molecular mechanisms are still not clear, the results of our studies demonstrate that the retention of the REV-LTR in the MDV genome decreases its pathogenic effects but increases its potential for horizontal transmission.
authors: Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, PR China.
authors: Ai-Jun
authors: AJ
authors: Sun
authors: Xiao-Yun
authors: XY
authors: Xu
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Petherbridge
authors: Yu-Guang
authors: YG
authors: Zhao
authors: Venugopal
authors: V
authors: Nair
authors: Zhi-Zhong
authors: ZZ
authors: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D025922:Mardivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D001356:Reticuloendotheliosis virus / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral