Abstract Recent advances in molecular biology and immunology of marek's disease

A. R. Omar^1* and K. A. Schat

^*1Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.

(Received 8 December 1997 / Accepted 10 January 1998)

Abstract.
Marek's disease virus (MDV) genes with homology to herpes simplex virus genes encoding for immediate early, early and late proteins and genes unique to MDV have been cloned and sequenced. Similarly, MDV genes that have significant homology to known oncogenes have also been characterized. Chickens vaccinated against this disease induce neutralizing antibody response and probably cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity that confer protection against subsequent challenge.

Keywords: Molecular Biology, Immunology, Marek's Disease Virus