Award details

Factors affecting the uptake and transmission of Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDV): improving barriers to natural MDV infection

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001049
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jim Kaufman
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	41,144
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/07/2003
End date	30/06/2006
Duration	36 months

Abstract

This programme will investigate very early events in MDV infection with the natural form of infectious virus (MDV-infected dust) as well as the production and dissemination of infectious virus from the feather follicle epithelium, the only site of production of fully-infectious MDV. In this project we will investigate (1) the lung as a barrier to natural infection with cell-free MDV, (2) the cells involved in the uptake and transport of MDV across the respiratory tract and (3) the feasibility of improving protective immune responses to MDV in the respiratory tissues and (4) the production of MDV in the FFE and the immune responses associated with fully-productive MDV infection. The objectives are to provide a basis for improving resistance to MD in commercial poultry by developing strategies to block MDV infection, rather than its replication in lymphoid tissues, by (1) identifying and enhancing protective responses to the early events in MDV infection (2) devising intervention strategies that improve the lung as a barrier (3) identifying and exploiting immune responses that reduce production of fully-infectious MDV and shedding from the FFE and/or (4) identifying host genes associated with reduced MDV uptake and dissemination.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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