Alternative splicing variants and DNA methylation status of BDNF in inbred chicken lines.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has multiple alternative splicing variants and plays diverse biological functions in mammals, including neuronal survival, cholesterol metabolism, cell differentiation and tumor development. However, genomic structures of chicken BDNF (cBDNF) variants and its potential functions are still undefined. Here, we characterized two novel alternative splicing variants of cBDNF, cBDNF1 and cBDNF2, via combining comparative genomics methods and molecular techniques in inbred chicken line 6(3) and line 7(2), which have been developed to be resistant and susceptible, respectively, to Marek's disease tumor since 1939.

Development of an endogenous virus-free line of chickens susceptible to all subgroups of avian leukosis virus.

Primary chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) from special specific pathogen-free chicken lines are used for detection of contamination of adult or embryonic tissues, meconium, or tissue culture fluids with avian leukosis viruses (ALV). The suitability and efficiency of such tests depend on the susceptibility of CEF to the various subgroups of exogenous as well as endogenous ALV. The ideal CEF for such tests should be not only susceptible to all retroviruses, but also free of endogenous viruses so that such tests are immune to any interference that may occur between the endogenous and the tested (exogenous) viruses.

At least one YMHCI molecule in the chicken is alloimmunogenic and dynamically expressed on spleen cells during development.

Transcriptionally active, MHC class I (MHCI) loci are located in two separate polymorphic genomic regions in the chicken called B and Y. The YMHCI gene sequences encode molecules with uncommon substitutions in the antigen-binding region indicating that YMHCI molecules are likely unique and may bind a specialized form of antigen distinct from that of other antigen-binding MHCI molecules. To learn whether YMHCI gene expression results in the production of alloantigens at the cell surface, we immunized 15I(5) x 7(2) : chickens using syngeneic RP9 cells expressing transduced YF1w*7.

Response of white leghorn chickens of various B haplotypes to infection at hatch with subgroup J avian leukosis virus.

White leghorn chickens from seven 15.B congenic lines (genetically similar except for genes linked to the major histocompatibility complex [MHC] B haplotype) and two Line 0.B semicongenic lines were infected at hatch with strain ADOL Hc-1 of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J).

2004 Nomenclature for the chicken major histocompatibility (B and Y) complex.

The first standard nomenclature for the chicken (Gallus gallus) major histocompatibility (B) complex published in 1982 describing chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variability is being revised to include subsequent findings. Considerable progress has been made in identifying the genes that define this polymorphic region. Allelic sequences for MHC genes are accumulating at an increasing rate without a standard system of nomenclature in place.

Response of white leghorn chickens of various genetic lines to infection with avian leukosis virus subgroup J.

In Experiment 1, chickens from various white leghorn experimental lines were inoculated with strain ADOL-Hcl of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) either as embryos or at 1 day of age. At various ages, chickens were tested for ALV-J induced viremia, antibody, and packed cell volume (PCV). Also, at 4 and 10 wk of age, bursal tissues were examined for avian leukosis virus (ALV)-induced preneoplastic lesions with the methyl green-pyronine (MGP) stain.