Marek's disease virus genes and their use in vaccines for protection against marek's disease

Abstract

A nucleotide sequence encoding the gp82 polypeptide of Marek's disease virus is disclosed. Also disclosed are recombinant viruses which are useful as vaccines for protecting against Marek's Disease, preferably containing two more genes encoding Marek's Disease Virus antigens such as glyprotein B and glycoprotein gp82, under the control of a poxvirus promoter within a region of the DNA of fowlpox virus which is not essential for virus growth. Also provided is a vaccine exhibiting a synergistic immunoprotective effect, comprising a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing Marek's Disease Virus gB protein in combination with turkey herpesvirus. A method of immunizing poultry, comprising administering any of the disclosed vaccines, is also provided.

1 . An isolated, purified DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, or a nucleotide sequence biologically functionally equivalent thereto.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated, purified DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or encoding a polypeptide biologically functionally equivalent thereto.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated, purified polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or a polypeptide biologically functionally equivalent thereto.  
     
     
         4 . A recombinant vector comprising said DNA molecule of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . The recombinant vector of  claim 4 , wherein said recombinant vector is a virus vector.  
     
     
         6 . A recombinant virus that expresses said DNA molecule of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The recombinant virus of  claim 6 , selected from the group consisting of a recombinant poxvirus, a recombinant avian herpesvirus, a recombinant adenovirus, and a recombinant influenza virus.  
     
     
         8 . The recombinant virus of  claim 7 , selected from the group consisting of a recombinant raccoon poxvirus, a recombinant vaccinia virus, a recombinant pigeon poxvirus, a recombinant fowlpox virus, a recombinant Marek's disease virus, a recombinant canary poxvirus, a recombinant quail poxvirus, a recombinant turkey poxvirus, a recombinant turkey herpesvirus, and a recombinant infectious laryngotracheitis virus.  
     
     
         9 . The recombinant virus of  claim 6 , which further expresses a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigen of an avian pathogen, or a nucleotide sequence biologically functionally equivalent thereto.  
     
     
         10 . The recombinant virus of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigen of an avian pathogen or a nucleotide sequence biologically functionally equivalent thereto encodes glycoprotein B of a Marek's disease virus.  
     
     
         11 . The recombinant virus of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigen of an avian pathogen or a nucleotide sequence biologically functionally equivalent thereto encodes glycoprotein B and glycoprotein E of a Marek's disease virus.  
     
     
         12 . The recombinant virus of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigen of an avian pathogen or a nucleotide sequence biologically functionally equivalent thereto encodes glycoprotein B, glycoprotein E and glycoprotein I of a Marek's disease virus.  
     
     
         13 . The recombinant virus of any  claim 9 , wherein said recombinant virus is a recombinant avipoxvirus or a recombinant avian herpesvirus.  
     
     
         14 . The recombinant avian herpesvirus of  claim 13 , wherein said recombinant avian herpesvirus is serotype 1, 2, or 3 of Marek's disease virus.  
     
     
         15 . A recombinant virus that expresses a DNA sequence encoding a membrane glycoprotein of Marek's Disease virus, wherein said recombinant virus is selected from the group consisting of a recombinant poxvirus, a recombinant avian herpesvirus, a recombinant adenovirus, and a recombinant influenza virus.  
     
     
         16 . The recombinant poxvirus or avian herpesvirus of  claim 15 , wherein said DNA sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:1, or is a biologically functionally equivalent of said DNA sequence.