Award details

Marek's disease virus pathogenesis and disease resistance

ReferenceBBS/B/00204
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Helen Sang
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution The Roslin Institute
DepartmentGene Expression and Development
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 137,088
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/04/2005
End date 30/04/2008
Duration37 months

Abstract

Mareks disease (MD) is a highly contagious disease caused by an oncogenic alphaherpesvirus. Control of MD is currently achieved by vaccination with live attenuated vaccines. However, the emergence of more virulent strains of Mareks disease virus (MDV) has indicated that alternative strategies will be required to control this disease in the future. A key objective of this proposal is to identify genes associated with the pathogenesis and latency of MDV infection and to exploit this knowledge to develop disease resistant chickens. The strategy will involve analysing gene function using siRNA technology and generation of chickens expressing siRNA transgenically in order to define gene function during MDV infection. The investigation will focus on known transforming/latency genes such as Meq, as well as characterising genes of unknown function. (Joint with BBS/B/0034 and BBS/B/00174)

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research TopicsAnimal Health, Immunology, Microbiology
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative Combating Viral Diseases of Livestock Initiative (CVDL) [2003]
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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