Isolation, Molecular Characterisation, and Pathogenicity Analysis of a Novel Recombinant ALV-J Strain Isolated From Chinese Hetian Chickens

Overview

Journal Vet Med Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2024 Sep 27

PMID 39331484

Authors

Tianyu Lei

Liyun Zhuang

Tingting Dai

Qun Niu

Yinli Bao

Weiming Lin

Cuiqin Huang

Xintian Zheng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) primarily affects poultry, particularly chickens, leading to tumourigenesis and immunosuppression, which results in substantial economic losses. It is important to note that ALV-J is commonly found in indigenous chicken breeds in China, and the virus's vertical transmission characteristics present a significant threat to the preservation of local chicken breeds.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the characteristics and effects of the recombinant ALV-J strain LY2021J, with a focus on its genetic composition and its potential influence on virulence and pathogenicity.

Methods: LY2021J was isolated using DF-1 cells and validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IFA. The proviral genome was amplified using segmented PCR and then spliced together using DNASTAR software. Genome-wide genes, including gag, pol, gp85, and long terminal repeat (LTR), were compared. Recombination sites were analysed using RDP5 and SimPlot software. Pathogenicity was evaluated by monitoring symptoms and conducting examinations on SPF chickens.

Results: The outbreak of ALV-J in China has caused significant economic losses in the poultry industry. Although largely controlled in white-feather broilers and egg-laying chickens, ALV-J has spread to yellow-feather broilers and local breeds. A strain, LY2021J, isolated from Hetian chickens, showed lower mortality despite severe dysplasia. Genetic analysis revealed high similarity between LY2021J and the Chinese strains JS14NT01 and NX0101, suggesting a shared origin. Recombination with strain ev-1 and specific 3' UTR deletions may explain LY2021J's reduced virulence. Continued monitoring and prevention strategies are essential to mitigate ALV-J's impact.

References

Feng M, Zhang X . Immunity to Avian Leukosis Virus: Where Are We Now and What Should We Do?. Front Immunol. 2017; 7:624. PMC: 5174080. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00624. View

Li H, Wang P, Lin L, Shi M, Gu Z, Huang T . The emergence of the infection of subgroup J avian leucosis virus escalated the tumour incidence in commercial Yellow chickens in Southern China in recent years. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2018; 66(1):312-316. DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13023. View

Han C, Hao R, Liu L, Zeng X . Molecular characterization of 3'UTRs of J subgroup avian leukosis virus in passerine birds in China. Arch Virol. 2015; 160(3):845-9. DOI: 10.1007/s00705-014-2321-y. View

Chesters P, Smith L, Nair V . E (XSR) element contributes to the oncogenicity of Avian leukosis virus (subgroup J). J Gen Virol. 2006; 87(Pt 9):2685-2692. DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.81884-0. View

Deng Q, Li M, He C, Lu Q, Gao Y, Li Q . Genetic diversity of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J): toward a unified phylogenetic classification and nomenclature system. Virus Evol. 2021; 7(1):veab037. PMC: 8129623. DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab037. View

Bova C, Manfredi J, Swanstrom R . env genes of avian retroviruses: nucleotide sequence and molecular recombinants define host range determinants. Virology. 1986; 152(2):343-54. DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(86)90137-6. View

Gao Y, Yun B, Qin L, Pan W, Qu Y, Liu Z . Molecular epidemiology of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in layer flocks in China. J Clin Microbiol. 2011; 50(3):953-60. PMC: 3295186. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.06179-11. View

Wu L, Li Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Fang C, Gu Y . Isolation and characterization of avian leukosis virus subgroup J associated with hemangioma and myelocytoma in layer chickens in China. Front Vet Sci. 2022; 9:970818. PMC: 9555167. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.970818. View

Cui Z, Du Y, Zhang Z, Silva R . Comparison of Chinese field strains of avian leukosis subgroup J viruses with prototype strain HPRS-103 and United States strains. Avian Dis. 2004; 47(4):1321-30. DOI: 10.1637/6085. View

10.

Shi M, Tian M, Liu C, Zhao Y, Lin Y, Zou N . Sequence analysis for the complete proviral genome of subgroup J Avian Leukosis virus associated with hemangioma: a special 11 bp deletion was observed in U3 region of 3'UTR. Virol J. 2011; 8:158. PMC: 3080830. DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-158. View

11.

Fadly A . Avian retroviruses. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 1997; 13(1):71-85. DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0720(15)30365-0. View

12.

Venugopal K . Avian leukosis virus subgroup J: a rapidly evolving group of oncogenic retroviruses. Res Vet Sci. 1999; 67(2):113-9. DOI: 10.1053/rvsc.1998.0283. View

13.

Payne L . Developments in avian leukosis research. Leukemia. 1992; 6 Suppl 3:150S-152S. View

14.

Wang P, Li M, Li H, Bi Y, Lin L, Shi M . ALV-J-contaminated commercial live vaccines induced pathogenicity in Three-Yellow chickens: one of the transmission routes of ALV-J to commercial chickens. Poult Sci. 2021; 100(4):101027. PMC: 7921873. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101027. View

15.

Ma M, Yu M, Chang F, Xing L, Bao Y, Wang S . Molecular characterization of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in Chinese local chickens between 2013 and 2018. Poult Sci. 2020; 99(11):5286-5296. PMC: 7647831. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.08.004. View

16.

Zhang Y, Su Q, Zhang Z, Cui Z, Chang S, Zhao P . Molecular characteristics of the re-emerged avian leukosis virus in China, 2018-2019. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2019; 67(3):1141-1151. DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13440. View

17.

Zhou D, Xue J, Zhang Y, Wang G, Feng Y, Hu L . Outbreak of myelocytomatosis caused by mutational avian leukosis virus subgroup J in China, 2018. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2018; 66(2):622-626. DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13096. View

18.

Navarro E, Mallen A, Hueso M . Dynamic Variations of 3'UTR Length Reprogram the mRNA Regulatory Landscape. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(11). PMC: 8615635. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111560. View

19.

Chen X, Wang H, Fang X, Gao K, Fang C, Gu Y . Identification of a novel epitope specific for Gp85 protein of avian leukosis virus subgroup K. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2020; 230:110143. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110143. View

20.

Li Y, Fu J, Cui S, Meng F, Cui Z, Fan J . Gp85 genetic diversity of avian leukosis virus subgroup J among different individual chickens from a native flock. Poult Sci. 2016; 96(5):1100-1107. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew407. View