Application of the polymerase chain reaction to detect fowl adenoviruses. (1/57)

The possibility of using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) was tested. The optimal reaction parameters were evaluated and defined for purified genomic DNA of type 8 fowl adenovirus (FAdV-8), and then the same conditions were applied for nucleic acid extracted from infected cells. One hundred picograms of purified viral DNA, or 250 FAdV-8-infected cells, were detected by ethidium bromide staining of the PCR products in agarose gels. The sensitivity was increased to 10 pg purified viral DNA, or 25 infected cells, when the PCR products were hybridized with a specific labeled probe. Several field isolates of FAdV and the CELO virus (FAdV serotype 1) could be amplified by the same primers and conditions, but the size of the amplicons was smaller than that for the FAdV-8 PCR product. Other avian viruses and uninfected cell cultures tested negative.  (+info)

Characterization of CELO virus proteins that modulate the pRb/E2F pathway. (2/57)

The avian adenovirus CELO can, like the human adenoviruses, transform several mammalian cell types, yet it lacks sequence homology with the transforming, early regions of human adenoviruses. In an attempt to identify how CELO virus activates the E2F-dependent gene expression important for S phase in the host cell, we have identified two CELO virus open reading frames that cooperate in activating an E2F-inducible reporter system. The encoded proteins, GAM-1 and Orf22, were both found to interact with the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), with Orf22 binding to the pocket domain of pRb, similar to other DNA tumor virus proteins, and GAM-1 interacting with pRb regions outside the pocket domain. The motif in Orf22 responsible for the pRb interaction is essential for Orf22-mediated E2F activation, yet it is remarkably unlike the E1A LxCxD and may represent a novel form of pRb-binding peptide.  (+info)

The complete nucleotide sequence of fowl adenovirus type 8. (3/57)

The fowl adenovirus type 8 (FAdV-8) genome was sequenced and found to be 45063 nucleotides in length, the longest adenovirus (AdV) genome for which the complete nucleotide sequence has been determined so far. No regions homologous to early regions 1, 3 and 4 (E1, E3 and E4) of mastadenoviruses were recognized. Gene homologues for early region 2 (E2) proteins, intermediate protein IVa2 and late proteins were found by their similarities to protein sequences from other AdVs. However, sequences homologous to intermediate protein IX and late protein V could not be identified. Sequences for virus-associated RNA could also not be recognized. Two regions of repeated sequences were found on the FAdV-8 genome. The shorter repeat region contained five identical and contiguous direct repeats that were each 33 bp long, while the longer repeat region was made of 13 identical and contiguous, 135 bp long repeated subunits.  (+info)

DNA sequence of frog adenovirus. (4/57)

The genome of frog adenovirus (FrAdV-1) was sequenced and found to be the smallest of all known adenovirus genomes. The sequence obtained was 26163 bp in size and contains a substantial direct repeat near the right terminus, implying that it was derived by recombination from a parental genome of only 25517 bp. The closest relative of FrAdV-1 proved to be turkey adenovirus 3, an avian adenovirus with no previously known near relative. Sequence comparisons showed that the two viruses have equivalent gene complements, including one gene the product of which is related to sialidases. Phylogenetic analyses supported the establishment of a fourth adenovirus genus containing these two viruses, in addition to the established genera Mastadenovirus: and Aviadenovirus: and the proposed genus Atadenovirus: Sixteen genes were identified as being conserved between these four lineages and were presumably inherited from an ancestral adenovirus.  (+info)

Pathogenicity and gene analysis of adenovirus from pigeons with inclusion body hepatitis. (5/57)

The pathogenicity of an adenovirus isolated from pigeons (Pigeon adenovirus, PA) with inclusion body hepatitis in Taiwan was investigated in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicks and in racing pigeons. One-day-old SPF chicks were inoculated subcutaneously with 10(4) 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50, low dose) and 10(8) TCID50 (high dose) of the virus, respectively. The chicks began to die three days post inoculation (DPI) with high dose of the virus and the mortality reached 100%; the chicks began to die 6 DPI and the mortality reached 90% at 14 DPI with low dose. The adult pigeons seemed to be resistant to the PA. However, this virus decreased the production of antibody against Newcastle disease virus in pigeons. It is found that this PA belongs to genetic group D from the restriction patterns produced by BamH I and Hind III.  (+info)

Serological monitoring on layer farms with specific pathogen-free chickens. (6/57)

To monitor the existence of avian pathogens in laying chicken flocks, specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were introduced into two layer farms and reared with laying hens for 12 months. SPF chickens were bled several times after their introduction and examined for their sero-conversion to avian pathogens. As a result, antibodies to eight or ten kinds of pathogens were detected in SPF chickens on each farm. Antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), avian nephritis virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae were detected early within the first month. Antibody titer to IBV suggested that the laying chickens were infected with IBV repeatedly during the experiment on both farms. However, antibodies to infectious bursal disease virus and 6 pathogens were not detected.  (+info)

Construction of avian adenovirus CELO recombinants in cosmids. (7/57)

The avian adenovirus CELO is a promising vector for gene transfer applications. In order to study this potentiality, we developed an improved method for construction of adenovirus vectors in cosmids that was used to engineer the CELO genome. For all the recombinant viruses constructed by this method, the ability to produce infectious particles and the stability of the genome were evaluated in a chicken hepatocarcinoma cell line (LMH cell line). Our aim was to develop a replication-competent vector for vaccination of chickens, so we first generated knockout point mutations into 16 of the 22 unassigned CELO open reading frames (ORFs) to determine if they were essential for virus replication. As the 16 independent mutant viruses replicated in our cellular system, we constructed CELO genomes with various deletions in the regions of these nonessential ORFs. An expression cassette coding for the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was inserted in place of these deletions to easily follow expression of the transgene and propagation of the vector in cell monolayers. Height-distinct GFP-expressing CELO vectors were produced that were all replication competent in our system. We then retained the vector backbone with the largest deletion (i.e., 3.6 kb) for the construction of vectors carrying cDNA encoding infectious bursal disease virus proteins. These CELO vectors could be useful for vaccination in the chicken species.  (+info)

The long repeat region is dispensable for fowl adenovirus replication in vitro. (8/57)

Two regions containing tandemly repeated sequences are present in the fowl adenovirus 9 (FAdV-9) genome. The longer repeat region (TR-2) is composed of 13 contiguous 135-bp-long direct repeats, the function of which is unknown. An infectious FAdV-9 genomic clone, constructed by homologous recombination in Escherichia coli, was used for engineering of recombinant viruses. The enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) coding sequence was cloned in both rightward and leftward orientations so as to replace TR-2. Replication-competent recombinant FAdVs were recovered, demonstrating that TR-2 was dispensable for FAdV-9 propagation in vitro. The expression of EGFP in infected cells was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy, immunoprecipitation, and RT-PCR.  (+info)