Ribavirin Inhibits Parrot Bornavirus 4 Replication in Cell Culture.

Parrot bornavirus 4 is an etiological agent of proventricular dilatation disease, a fatal neurologic and gastrointestinal disease of psittacines and other birds. We tested the ability of ribavirin, an antiviral nucleoside analog with antiviral activity against a range of RNA and DNA viruses, to inhibit parrot bornavirus 4 replication in duck embryonic fibroblast cells. Two analytical methods that evaluate different products of viral replication, indirect immunocytochemistry for viral specific nucleoprotein and qRT-PCR for viral specific phosphoprotein gene mRNA, were used.

Both homo and heterodimers of Marek's disease virus encoded Meq protein contribute to transformation of lymphocytes in chickens.

Marek' disease virus serotype-1, also know as Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2), elicits T-cell lymphomas in chickens. The GaHV-2 genome encodes an oncoprotein, Meq, with similarity to the Jun/Fos family of proteins. We have previously shown that Meq homodimers are not sufficient to induce lymphomas in chickens.

In vitro characterization of the Meq proteins of Marek's disease virus vaccine strain CVI988.

Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2), commonly known as Marek's disease virus serotype-1 (MDV-1), causes T cell lymphomas in chickens. Vaccines prepared from the attenuated CVI988/Rispens MDV-1 strain currently offer the best protection. Although attenuated CVI988/Rispens is non-oncogenic, it codes for at least two forms of the MDV oncoprotein Meq, and these proteins (CVI-Meq and CVI-LMeq) have not been fully characterized.

Homodimerization of Marek's disease virus-encoded Meq protein is not sufficient for transformation of lymphocytes in chickens.

Marek's disease virus (MDV), the etiologic agent of Marek's disease, is a potent oncogenic herpesvirus. MDV is highly contagious and elicits a rapid onset of malignant T-cell lymphomas in chickens within several weeks after infection. MDV genome codes an oncoprotein, Meq, which shares resemblance with the Jun/Fos family of bZIP transcription factors.