A Deletion Within Glycoprotein L of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) Field Isolates Correlates with a Decrease in Bivalent MDV Vaccine Efficacy in Contact-Exposed Chickens

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) recombinant expressing Marek's disease virus (MDV) glycoprotein B significantly protects chickens against MDV and NDV challenges

Marek's disease (MD) is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease of chickens caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV), resulting in significant economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. The commonly used live and/or vectored MDV vaccines are expensive to produce and difficult to handle due to the requirement of liquid nitrogen for manufacturing and delivering frozen infected cells that are viable. In this study, we aimed to develop a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vectored MDV vaccine that can be lyophilized, stored, and transported at 4 °C. Four NDV LaSota (LS) vaccine strain-based recombinant viruses expressing MDV glycoproteins gB, gC, gE, or gI were generated using reverse genetics technology. The biological assessments showed that these recombinant viruses were slightly attenuated in vivo yet retained similar growth kinetics and virus titers in vitro compared to the parental LaSota virus. Vaccination of leghorn chickens (Lines 15I5x71 F1 cross) with these recombinant viruses via intranasal and intraocular routes conferred different levels of protection against virulent MDV challenge. The recombinant expressing the MDV gB protein, rLS/MDV-gB, protected vaccinated birds significantly against MDV-induced tumor formation when challenged at 14 days post-vaccination (DPV) but moderately at 5 DPV. Whereas the other three recombinants provided little protection against the MDV challenge. All four recombinants conferred complete protection against the velogenic NDV challenge. These results demonstrated that the rLS/MDV-gB virus is a safe and efficacious dual vaccine candidate that can be lyophilized and potentially mass-administered via aerosol or drinking water to large chicken populations at a meager cost.

Identification of Marek's disease virus genes associated with virulence of US strains

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is the most well-cited example of vaccine-driven virulence evolution. MDV induces a lymphoproliferative disease in chickens, which is currently controlled by widespread vaccination of flocks. Unfortunately, Marek's disease (MD) vaccines, while effective in preventing tumours, do not prevent viral replication and mutation, which has been hypothesized as the major driving force for increased MDV virulence of field strains during the past 40 years in US commercial flocks. To limit future virulence increases, there is interest in characterizing MDV strain genomes collected over the years and associating genetic variations with variation in virulence. In this study, we characterized 70 MDV genomes with known virulence by complete or targeted DNA sequencing, and identified genetic variants that showed association with virulence. Our results revealed a number of MDV genes as would be expected for a complex trait. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed a clear separation of strains that varied by virulence. Interestingly, high virulence isolates from the same farms persisted over years despite eradication attempts, which has implications on control efforts. Given the growing ability to bioengineer the MDV genome, it should be feasible to experimentally test whether these individual variants influence virulence markers alone or combinations. Once validated, these markers may provide an alternative to live bird testing for evaluating virulence of new MDV field strains.

Comparison of the Transcriptomes and Proteomes of Serum Exosomes from Marek's Disease Virus-Vaccinated and Protected and Lymphoma-Bearing Chickens

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is the causative agent of Marek's disease (MD), a complex pathology of chickens characterized by paralysis, immunosuppression, and T-cell lymphomagenesis. MD is controlled in poultry production via vaccines administered in ovo or at hatch, and these confer protection against lymphoma formation, but not superinfection by MDV field strains. Despite vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, mechanisms eliciting systemic protection remain unclear. Here we report the contents of serum exosomes to assess their possible roles as indicators of systemic immunity, and alternatively, tumor formation. We examined the RNA and protein content of serum exosomes from CVI988 (Rispens)-vaccinated and protected chickens (VEX), and unvaccinated tumor-bearing chickens (TEX), via deep-sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses of microRNAs (miRNAs) and predicted miRNA targets indicated a greater abundance of tumor suppressor miRNAs in VEX compared to TEX. Conversely, oncomiRs originating from cellular (miRs 106a-363) and MDV miRNA clusters were more abundant in TEX compared to VEX. Most notably, mRNAs mapping to the entire MDV genome were identified in VEX, while mRNAs mapping to the repeats flanking the unique long (IRL/TRL) were identified in TEX. These data suggest that long-term systemic vaccine-induced immune responses may be mediated at the level of VEX which transfer viral mRNAs to antigen presenting cells systemically. Proteomic analyses of these exosomes suggested potential biomarkers for VEX and TEX. These data provide important putative insight into MDV-mediated immune suppression and vaccine responses, as well as potential serum biomarkers for MD protection and susceptibility.

Induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR) during Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection

Marek's disease (MD) is a pathology of chickens associated with paralysis, immune suppression, and the rapid formation of T-cell lymphomas. MD is caused by the herpesvirus, Marek's disease virus (MDV). We examined endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways during MDV infection of cells in culture and lymphocytes in vivo. MDV strains activate the UPR as measured by increased mRNA expression of GRP78/BiP with concomitant XBP1 splicing and induction of its target gene, EDEM1. Cell culture replication of virulent, but not vaccine MDVs, activated the UPR at late in infection. Pathotype-associated UPR activation was induced to a greater level by a vv + MDV. Discrete UPR activation was observed during MDV in vivo infection, with the level of UPR modulation being affected by the MDV oncoprotein Meq. Finally, ATF6 was found to be activated in vv + MDV-induced primary lymphomas, suggesting a possible role in tumor progression.

Evaluation of factors influencing the development of late Marek's disease virus-induced immunosuppression: virus pathotype and host sex

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus that induces lymphoma and immunosuppression in chickens. MDV-induced immunosuppression (MDV-IS) is complex and can be divided into two phases: early-MDV-IS associated with cytolytic infection in the lymphoid organs in chickens lacking maternal antibodies against MDV (MAbs) and late-MDV-IS that appears later in the pathogenesis and occurs even in chickens bearing MAbs. We have recently developed a model to reproduce late-MDV-IS under laboratory conditions. This model evaluates late-MDV-IS indirectly by assessing the effect of MDV infection on the efficacy of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) vaccines against challenge with ILT virus. In the present study, we have used this model to investigate the role of two factors (MDV pathotype and host sex) on the development of late-MDV-IS. Five MDV strains representing three different pathotypes: virulent (vMDV; 617A, GA), very virulent (vvMDV; Md5), and very virulent plus (vv+MDV; 648A, 686), were evaluated. Only vv+ strains were able to induce late-MDV-IS. An immunosuppression rank (IS-rank) was established based on the ability of MDV to reduce the efficacy of chicken embryo origin vaccine (values go from 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest immunosuppressive ability). The IS-rank of the evaluated MDV strains ranged from 5.97 (GA) to 20.8 (617A) in the vMDV strains, 5.97 to 16.24 in the vvMDV strain Md5, and 39.08 to 68.2 in the vv+ strains 648A and 686. In this study both male and female chickens were equally susceptible to MDV-IS by vv+MDV 686. Our findings suggest that late-MDV-IS is a unique feature of vv+ strains.

DNA from Dust: Comparative Genomics of Large DNA Viruses in Field Surveillance Samples

The intensification of the poultry industry over the last 60 years facilitated the evolution of increased virulence and vaccine breaks in Marek's disease virus (MDV-1). Full-genome sequences are essential for understanding why and how this evolution occurred, but what is known about genome-wide variation in MDV comes from laboratory culture. To rectify this, we developed methods for obtaining high-quality genome sequences directly from field samples without the need for sequence-based enrichment strategies prior to sequencing. We applied this to the first characterization of MDV-1 genomes from the field, without prior culture. These viruses were collected from vaccinated hosts that acquired naturally circulating field strains of MDV-1, in the absence of a disease outbreak. This reflects the current issue afflicting the poultry industry, where virulent field strains continue to circulate despite vaccination and can remain undetected due to the lack of overt disease symptoms. We found that viral genomes from adjacent field sites had high levels of overall DNA identity, and despite strong evidence of purifying selection, had coding variations in proteins associated with virulence and manipulation of host immunity. Our methods empower ecological field surveillance, make it possible to determine the basis of viral virulence and vaccine breaks, and can be used to obtain full genomes from clinical samples of other large DNA viruses, known and unknown. IMPORTANCE Despite both clinical and laboratory data that show increased virulence in field isolates of MDV-1 over the last half century, we do not yet understand the genetic basis of its pathogenicity. Our knowledge of genome-wide variation between strains of this virus comes exclusively from isolates that have been cultured in the laboratory. MDV-1 isolates tend to lose virulence during repeated cycles of replication in the laboratory, raising concerns about the ability of cultured isolates to accurately reflect virus in the field. The ability to directly sequence and compare field isolates of this virus is critical to understanding the genetic basis of rising virulence in the wild. Our approaches remove the prior requirement for cell culture and allow direct measurement of viral genomic variation within and between hosts, over time, and during adaptation to changing conditions.

The influence of host genetics on Marek's disease virus evolution

Since the first report of a polyneuritis in chickens by Joseph Marek in 1907, the clinical nature of the disease has changed. Over the last five decades, the pathogenicity of the Marek's disease virus (MDV) has continued to evolve from the relatively mild strains observed in the 1960s to the more severe strains labeled very virulent plus currently observed in today's outbreaks. To understand the influence of host genetics, specifically the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), on virus evolution, a bacterial artificial chromosome-derived MDV (Md5B40BAC) was passed in vivo through resistant (MHC-B21) and susceptible (MHC-B13) Line 0 chickens. Criteria for selecting virus isolates for in vivo passage were based on virus replication in white blood cells 21 days after challenge and evaluation of MD pathology at necropsy. In the MHC-B13-susceptible line the Md5B40BAC virulence consistently increased from 18% Marek's disease (MD) after in vivo passage 1 (B13-IVP1 Md5B40BAC) to 94% MD after B13-IVP5 Md5B40BAC challenge. In the MHC-B21-resistant line MD virulence fluctuated from 28% at B21-IVP1 Md5B40BAC to a high of 65% in B21-IVP2 Md5B40BAC back to a low of 23% in B21-IVP5 Md5B40BAC-challenged chicks. Although the B21-IVP5 Md5B40BAC isolates were relatively mild in the MHC-B21 chicken line (56% MDV), they were highly virulent in the MHC-B13 line (100% MDV). From this series of experiments it would appear that MDV evolution toward greater virulence occurs in both susceptible and resistant MHC haplotypes, but the resulting increase in pathogenicity is constrained by the resistant MHC haplotype.

A deletion in the glycoprotein L (gL) gene of U.S. Marek's disease virus (MDV) field strains is insufficient to confer increased pathogenicity to the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-based strain, RB-1B

Marek's disease (MD) is a highly transmissible, herpesvirus-associated malignancy of chickens and turkeys caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV). MD is currently controlled through the use of nonsterilizing vaccines composed of antigenically related, apathogenic herpesviruses Mardivirus 2 (MDV-2), Meleagrid herpesvirus 1 (herpesvirus of turkeys, HVT), or attenuated MDV-1 strain CVI988 (Rispens). Since the mid-1960s, field strains of MDV have increased in virulence, due, in part, to the widespread use of vaccines since the early 1970s. One mutation that we have identified common to very virulent field strains (vv and vv+MDVs) since the 1990s has been a mutation in the UL1 gene, encoding glycoprotein L (gL). This mutation, a 12-nucleotide (nt) deletion in the signal peptide of gL, has been associated with increased virulence and decreased vaccine protection in the context of challenge with a vv+MDV, strain TK. To determine whether this mutation alone was sufficient to confer increased virulence, we introduced this mutation into the transmission-competent pRB-1B bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) using two-step, Red-mediated recombination. The resulting mutant, pRB-1BgLdelta, was tested for changes in replication in cell culture using multistep growth curves, plaque size analysis, viral burst analysis, and the ability to compete with the parental virus when co-transfected at different ratios and sequentially passaged. In addition, we examined this mutant for changes in pathogenicity in inoculated and contact-exposed unvaccinated and vaccinated chickens. Our data show minor differences in plaque sizes in cell culture, but no discernible changes in the infection of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) leghorn chickens. We therefore conclude that although this mutation is indeed common to MDV field strains isolated in the eastern United States, it is insufficient to confer increased virulence or loss of vaccine protection previously observed for a vv+MDV strain having this mutation.

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with cell culture-attenuated and vaccine strains of Marek's disease virus

Vaccination is an effective strategy to reduce the loss of chickens in the poultry industry caused by Marek's Disease (MD), an avian lymphoproliferative disease. The vaccines currently used are from attenuated serotype 1 Marek's disease virus (MDV) or naturally nononcogenic MDV strains. To prepare for future immunity breaks, functional genomic and proteomic studies have been used to better understand the underlying mechanisms of MDV pathogenicity and the effects induced by the vaccine viruses. In this study, a combined approach of quantitative GeLC-MSE and qualitative ERLIC/IMAC/LC-MS/MS analysis were used to identify abundance changes of proteins and the variations of phosphorylation status resulting from the perturbations due to infection with an attenuated oncogenic virus strain (Md11/75C) and several nononcogenic virus strains (CVI988, FC126 and 301B) in vitro. Using this combined approach, several signal transduction pathways mapped by the identified proteins were found to be altered at both the level of protein abundance and phosphorylation. On the basis of this study, a kinase-dependent pathway to regulate phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 to modulate assembly of the protein translation initiation complex was revealed. The differences of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation patterns as well as the measured abundance changes among several other proteins that regulate host transcriptional and translational activities across the virus strains used in this study provide new insight for future functional and biochemical characterization of specific proteins involved in MDV pathogenesis.