带有REV-LTR片段的马立克氏病毒重组野毒株与超强毒株致病性和传播性比较

摘要：【目的】GX0101是一株插入了禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒(REV)-LTR片段的马立克氏病毒（MDV）重组野毒株,本文将其致病性、致肿瘤性和横向传播能力与超强毒参考株（vvMd5）进行比较。【方法】利用MDV特异性核酸探针对同罩饲养的对照鸡的羽毛囊DNA进行检测。【结果】在经抗MDV疫苗免疫的SPF鸡攻毒试验中表明,GX0101株的致死率28.6%和致肿瘤率7.1%均低于超强毒参考株Md5的致死率63.1%和致肿瘤率19.0%。但是,利用MDV特异性核酸探针对同罩饲养的对照鸡的羽毛囊DNA检测表明,     

敲除Meq基因的重组鸡马立克氏病毒与CVI988/Rispens疫苗株免疫保护效力的比较

【目的】比较敲除meq基因的马立克氏病毒(MDV)与标准疫苗株CVI988/Rispens对MDV超强毒GX0101攻毒的免疫保护作用。【方法】本实验将1日龄SPF鸡120只随机分成4组,每组30只,分别饲养在正压过滤空气的SPF动物饲养隔离罩内。1日龄时,第1组鸡以2000PFU/只的剂量颈部皮下接种SC9-1;第2组鸡以2000PFU/只的剂量颈部皮下接种CVI988/Rispens;第3、4组为不免疫攻毒对照组。免疫接种后5 d后,第1、2、3组分别以2000PFU/只的剂量腹腔接种MDV GX0101。饲养至90日龄,记录死亡情况,对死亡鸡只剖检,并取疑似马立克特有病变脏器做病理切片。期间,检测不同免疫状态下病毒GX0101的增殖动态以及禽流感、新城疫灭活苗在鸡体诱导产生抗体的水平。对含有MDV母源抗体的海蓝褐鸡的试验方案与SPF鸡一致。【结果】SC9-1株免疫对感染MDV GX0101攻击SPF鸡、海兰褐鸡均提供100%的免疫保护作用;CVI988/Rispens对SPF鸡、海兰褐鸡分别提供86.7%、93%的免疫保护作用。未免疫SPF鸡攻毒组死亡率为53.3%,肿瘤率为16.7%;未免疫海兰褐鸡攻毒组死亡率为36.7%,肿瘤率为6.67%;相比,空白对照组鸡只没有任何病变及死亡。荧光定量结果显示,淋巴细胞和羽毛囊DNA中,SC9-1免疫组鸡体内GX0101的病毒拷贝数显著低于CVI988/Rispens免疫组。血凝抑制试验结果显示,SC9-1免疫攻毒组鸡的产生的AIV、NDV抗体水平高于CVI988/Rispens免疫攻毒组。【结论】SC9-1株免疫无论在SPF鸡还是含有MDV母源抗体的海兰褐鸡均能提供比CVI988/Rispens更好的免疫保护效果。     

带有REV-LTR片段的马立克氏病病毒重组野毒株与超强毒株致病性和横向传播性比较

[目的]GX0101是一株插入了禽网状内皮组织增生症病病毒(REV)-LTR片段的马立克氏病病毒(MDV)重组野毒株,本文将其致病性、致肿瘤性和横向传播能力与超强毒参考株(vvd5)进行比较.[方法]利用MDV特异性核酸探针对同罩饲养的对照鸡的羽毛囊DNA进行检测.[结果]在经抗MDV疫苗免疫的SPF鸡攻毒试验中表明,GX0101株的致死率28.6%和致肿瘤率7.1%均低于超强毒参考株Md5的致死率63.1%和致肿瘤率19.0%.但是,利用MDV特异性核酸探针对同罩饲养的对照鸡的羽毛囊DNA检测表明,GXO101从攻毒后第28天就有6/15的比例从羽毛囊中检出MDV,而与vvMd5接种鸡同一隔离罩的对照鸡,在35 d时才在2/14的个体中检出MDV,即GX0101的横向传播能力大于超强毒株.这一结果表明,MDV的致病性不一定与横向传播力相平行.[结论]由此推测,显著增高的横向传播能力可能就是这一整合进REV-LTR的重组病毒株能在鸡群中逐渐流行开来的选择性竞争优势之一.     

整合REV LTR序列的MDV弱毒株的分离鉴定与生物学特性

【目的】从非免疫健康三黄鸡中分离到一株马立克氏病病毒(MDV),命名为MDV GD06株,本工作系统研究了其生物学特性。【方法】PCR扩增GD06株Meq基因及短末端重复区(RS)序列,进行序列分析,并用间接免疫荧光试验进行血清型特异性鉴定;通过接种SPF鸡和鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)来判定GD06株体内外的增殖能力;为确定GD06株的致病性,用1日龄SPF鸡进行攻毒试验。【结果】GD06株为MDV血清I型病毒,其基因组中自然整合禽网状内皮增殖症病毒(REV)的长末端重复序列(LTR),Meq基因富含脯氨酸的结构域比参考强毒株Md5多59个氨基酸,与MD商品化疫苗CVI988/Rispens和814株相符,具有弱毒株的特征。在接种CEF细胞96、120、144、168、192 h,GD06株病毒滴度分别为1.9×105、3.9×105、6.1×105、6.5×105、5.8×105PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens(病毒滴度分别为1.3×105、3.5×105、5.0×105、5.7×105、4.7×105PFU)高(P0.05);接种SPF鸡21、28天,GD06株在鸡体内的病毒滴度分别为740和350 PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens株(病毒滴度分别为460、216 PFU)高(P0.05),结果表明,GD06株在CEF细胞和鸡体内具有比CVI988/Rispens更快的增殖能力。人工接种攻毒实验表明,GD06株对SPF鸡没有致病性,不引免疫抑制。【结论】研究结果表明,MDV GD06株为国内首次分离的自然整合有REV LTR序列的重组MDV弱毒株。     

马立克氏病病毒meg基因敲除株感染性克隆的免疫效果评价

摘要：【目的】比较和评价了敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆作为新型DNA疫苗的免疫保护效果。【方法】将1日龄SPF鸡饲养于正压过滤空气的SPF动物饲养隔离罩内。1日龄时,将SPF鸡以10 μg /只的剂量通过大腿肌肉注射的方式接种溶解于PBS缓冲液中的敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆GX0101Δmeq-BAC,分别在免疫后5天或12天以500 PFU/只的剂量接种超强毒rMd5。饲养90天,观察死亡情况,对每一只鸡剖检并取心脏与肝脏做石蜡切片,进行病理观察。【结果】免疫5天后攻毒,CVI988/Risp     

马立克氏病病毒meq基因敲除株感染性克隆的免疫效果评价

【目的】比较和评价了敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆作为新型DNA疫苗的免疫保护效果。【方法】将1日龄SPF鸡饲养于正压过滤空气的SPF动物饲养隔离罩内。1日龄时,将SPF鸡以10μg/只的剂量通过大腿肌肉注射的方式接种溶解于PBS缓冲液中的敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆GX0101 Δmeq-BAC,分别在免疫后5天或12天以500PFU/只的剂量接种超强毒rMd5。饲养90天,观察死亡情况,对每一只鸡剖检并取心脏与肝脏做石蜡切片,进行病理观察。【结果】免疫5天后攻毒,CVI988/Rispens对超强毒rMd5的保护指数可达到87%,GX0101 Δmeq-BAC对rMd5的保护指数仅达33%;而免疫12天后对rMd5的保护指数为53%。【结论】相对于细胞结合疫苗CVI988/Rispens,DNA疫苗在机体内的病毒拯救是使其获得保护力的前提条件,因此有一定的免疫空当期。以GX0101 Δmeq-BAC作为疫苗免疫不仅能使雏鸡在受到超强毒感染时发病延迟,而且还能提供较好的免疫保护效果。     

表达IBDV VP2融合蛋白的重组MDV的构建及其免疫特性

将增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(eGFP)与鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)的VP2基因融合,插入马立克氏病毒(MDV)CVI988/Rispens的非必需区US10片段中,成功构建表达VP2融合蛋白的MDVCVI988转移载体pUC18-US10-VP2。将转移载体质粒与CVI988/Rispens疫苗毒共转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF),筛选获得表达VP2融合蛋白的重组MDV(rMDV)。聚合酶链式反应(PCR)和间接免疫荧光实验(IFA)证明,rMDV传至第31代仍能稳定表达VP2融合蛋白。用rMDV免疫SPF鸡,进行IBDV攻毒保护试验,1日龄SPF鸡分别用1000PFU、2000PFU、5000PFU的rMDV进行免疫,33日龄用100LD50的IBDVJS超强毒进行攻毒,鸡的免疫保护率分别为50%、60%、80%。值得注意的是,5000PFU的rMDV一次免疫1日龄SPF鸡,其法氏囊组织病理损伤等级与IBD中等毒力活疫苗常规二次免疫相当(2·0/1·5),其保护效果无显著差异(p>0·05),而与非重组病毒免疫组相比较,保护效果差异显著(P<0·01),这表明构建的表达IBDVVP2融合蛋白的rMDV可以有效地为SPF鸡提供免疫保护作用。     

禽传染性支气管炎病毒Nsp2蛋白与宿主蛋白eIF2α的互作鉴定

Nsp2蛋白是冠状病毒的非结构蛋白,在病毒早期感染中具有重要作用。【目的】为初步筛选可能与禽传染性支气管炎病毒(avian infectious bronchitis virus,IBV) Nsp2蛋白互作的宿主蛋白,鉴定Nsp2蛋白与真核翻译起始因子2α亚基(eIF2α)的相互作用。【方法】以pCAGGs-Flag-Nsp2和pCAGGs-Flag载体转染后的鸡胚肾(CEK)细胞为研究对象,利用免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)和液相色谱-串联质谱(LC⁃MS/MS)技术筛选出可能与IBV Nsp2蛋白发生互作的宿主蛋白eIF2α,通过免疫共沉淀和间接免疫荧光试验进一步验证二者相互作用。【结果】经免疫共沉淀与质谱分析后筛选到97个可能与Nsp2蛋白互作的宿主蛋白,其中宿主抗病毒反应的关键蛋白eIF2α与Nsp2蛋白的相互作用通过免疫共沉淀和间接免疫荧光试验,表明二者存在直接互作关系,并共定位于细胞质中;此外,Nsp2蛋白表达和IBV感染都能显著提高宿主内源性eIF2α的转录水平。【结论】利用免疫共沉淀联合质谱技术筛选到CEK细胞中存在的97种可能与IBV Nsp2互作的候选蛋白,利用免疫共沉淀与间接免疫荧光证明候选蛋白eIF2α与Nsp2蛋白在细胞质中存在直接互作,同时发现Nsp2蛋白过表达和IBV感染会导致CEK细胞内eIF2α的转录水平显著增强。本研究为进一步探索冠状病毒非结构蛋白Nsp2的生物学功能奠定了基础,并提供了IBV入侵宿主时Nsp2蛋白的作用机制研究的新线索。     

缺失ORF73或ORF214基因对重组鸡痘病毒免疫应答的影响

【目的】旨在研究鸡痘病毒ORF73和ORF214编码蛋白是否具有IL-18结合蛋白的功能,以及ORF73或ORF214基因缺失后对重组病毒诱导免疫应答的影响。【方法】以缺失ORF73或ORF214基因并表达H5亚型AIVHA基因的重组鸡痘病毒(rFPVLP-△73LRH5A、rFPVLP-△214LRH5A)作为研究对象,以未缺失ORF73或ORF214基因而表达H5亚型AIVHA基因的重组鸡痘病毒(rFPVLP-12LSH5A)作为对照,检测重组病毒体外诱导SPF鸡脾细胞和外周血淋巴细胞产生IFN情况,同时检测重组病毒免疫SPF鸡后诱导的体液免疫、CD4+/CD8+比值、外周血淋巴细胞的增殖能力和H5亚型AIV强毒攻击后的免疫保护效力。【结果】rFPVLP-△73LRH5A和rFPVLP-△214LRH5A体外诱导脾细胞产生的IFN量显著高于rFPVLP-12LSH5A,而免疫10d后的CD4+/CD8+比值显著低于rFPVLP-12LSH5A;3种重组鸡痘病毒诱导外周血淋巴细胞增殖的能力没有明显差异;3种重组病毒在SPF鸡均产生针对H5亚型AIV的HI抗体,免疫14d后rFPVLP-△214LRH5A组诱生的HI抗体水平显著低于rFPVLP-12LSH5A组的抗体,但3组在免疫21d后HPAIV的致死性攻击时,均100%被保护。【结论】鸡痘病毒ORF73和ORF214编码蛋白具有IL-18结合蛋白抑制IFN产生的功能,虽然缺失株和亲本株重组鸡痘病毒在细胞和体液免疫应答存在一定差异,但在SPF鸡均能诱导产生良好的免疫保护。     

表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组马立克氏病病毒的构建

将禽流感病毒M2基因克隆于真核表达质粒pIRES-EGFP中,使其位于pCMV启动子的调控下,并与绿色荧光蛋白基因（EGFP）串联后,将上述串联基因插入到含MDV CVI988的非必需区US基因的重组质粒pUS2中,构建带标记的重组质粒,然后将此重组质粒转染感染了MDV CVI988的鸡胚成纤维细胞,利用同源重组的方法,筛选了表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组病毒MDV1。经PCR、Dot-blotting,Western-blotting等实验的结果表明,禽流感病毒M2基因的确插入到MDV1（CVI988）基因组中并获得表达。重组MDV1免疫1日龄SPF鸡21天后,用ELISA可检测到M2蛋白的特异性抗体。接种了重组病毒rMDV的鸡体内针对H9N2疫苗血凝素的抗体滴度(p<0.05)明显提高,以禽流感病毒AIV A/Chicken/Guangdong/00（H9N2）攻毒后进行病毒重分离试验的结果发现,重组病毒能有效地降低病毒的排出量(p<0.01),说明该重组病毒可以用于防制禽流感的免疫。     

Novel applications of feather tip extracts from MDV-infected chickens; diagnosis of commercial broilers, whole genome separation by PFGE and synchronic mucosal infection

Marek's disease virus (MDV) productive replication occurs in the feather follicle epithelium and the feather tips are valuable both for research and disease diagnosis. Three novel applications of feather tip extracts are described now: (A). As a source of DNA for amplifying either MDV and/or ALV-J. In two clinical situations a marked advantage was obtained compared to blood and organs; in broiler breeder flocks with a mixed MDV and ALV-J infection, and in young broilers with neurological Marek's disease (MD). (B). Separation of the large ( approximately 200 kbp) MDV genome directly from the infected chickens. Using pulsed field gel electrophoresis, the DNA extracted from tumors or feather tips was separated and hybridized to a 132 bp tandem repeat MDV probe. Compared to 2/55 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive tumor samples, 15/61 feather tip extracts contained whole MDV genomes. (C). Experimental MDV infection was induced by the mucosal route by dripping feather tip extract to the eye and mouth of the bird. That attempted to reproduce the native infection process, however the use of extracts, instead of dry feather dust was a compromise, aimed to synchronize the infection. In one trial, tumors were induced 6 weeks after dripping day-old broilers, while in another, feather tips were PCR positive 16 days after dripping of 2-month-old layers.     

Horizontal transmission of Marek's disease virus requires US2, the UL13 protein kinase, and gC

Marek's disease virus (MDV) causes a general malaise in chickens that is mostly characterized by the development of lymphoblastoid tumors in multiple organs. The use of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) for cloning and manipulation of the MDV genome has facilitated characterization of specific genes and genomic regions. The development of most MDV BACs, including pRB-1B-5, derived from a very virulent MDV strain, involved replacement of the US2 gene with mini-F vector sequences. However, when reconstituted viruses based on pRB-1B were used in pathogenicity studies, it was discovered that contact chickens housed together with experimentally infected chickens did not contract Marek's disease (MD), indicating a lack of horizontal transmission. Staining of feather follicle epithelial cells in the skins of infected chickens showed that virus was present but was unable to be released and/or infect susceptible chickens. Restoration of US2 and removal of mini-F sequences within viral RB-1B did not alter this characteristic, although in vivo viremia levels were increased significantly. Sequence analyses of pRB-1B revealed that the UL13, UL44, and US6 genes encoding the UL13 serine/threonine protein kinase, glycoprotein C (gC), and gD, respectively, harbored frameshift mutations. These mutations were repaired individually, or in combination, using two-step Red mutagenesis. Reconstituted viruses were tested for replication, MD incidence, and their abilities to horizontally spread to contact chickens. The experiments clearly showed that US2, UL13, and gC in combination are essential for horizontal transmission of MDV and that none of the genes alone is able to restore this phenotype.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid of Marek's Disease Virus in Virus-Induced Tumors

DNA was extracted from [(3)H]thymidine-labeled Marek's disease virus (MDV) and purified by two cycles of CsCl gradient centrifugation in a fixed-angle rotor. The DNA was transcribed in vitro into (32)P-labeled complementary RNA (cRNA). MDV cRNA did not hybridize with DNA from chicken embryo fibroblast cultures or from chicken spleen, but hybridized efficiently with DNA from MDV particles or MDV-infected cell cultures. Five Marek's disease tumors from different chickens and different organs (ovary, liver, testis) were all found to contain MDV DNA sequences. The relative amount of MDV DNA varied from tumor to tumor and was between 3 and 15 virus genome equivalents per cell. The content of virus DNA per cell in spleens from tumor-bearing chickens was much lower than in tumors from the same animals. MDV-infected cell cultures contained a large proportion (28-59%) of virus antigen-positive cells, as measured by immunofluorescence, but tumor cells were negative in this respect (<0.02% positive cells). These data indicate that MDV is present in a provirus form in tumor cells.     

Persistence of Marek's disease virus in a subpopulation of B cells that is transformed by avian leukosis virus, but not in normal bursal B cells.

Previous studies have described an augmentation of avian leukosis virus (ALV)-induced lymphoid leukosis in chickens that were coinfected with a serotype 2 Marek's disease virus (MDV) strain, SB-1. As a first step toward understanding the mechanism of this augmentation, we have analyzed the tropism of the MDV for the ALV-transformed B cell. After hatching, chickens were coinfected with ALV and a nonpathogenic strain of MDV, SB-1. Seventy primary and metastatic ALV-induced lymphomas that developed in chickens between 14 and 20 weeks of age were found, with only one exception, to carry SB-1 DNA. The MDV genome was maintained in cell lines derived from the tumors. However, MDV DNA could not be detected in nontransformed bursal B cells from chickens carrying ALV lymphomas. Moreover, during and after the lytic phase of MDV infection, SB-1 DNA was near or below the level of detection in bursal cells, suggesting that MDV most likely infects only a small subpopulation of bursal cells. By contrast, ALV-transformed B cells from MDV-free chickens could be persistently infected with MDV in vitro. These findings indicate that ALV lymphoma cells, unlike nontransformed bursal B cells, are susceptible to persistent MDV infection and can serve as a reservoir of MDV that can potentially influence the physiology of the transformed cell.     

Protection against Marek's disease by a fowlpox virus recombinant expressing the glycoprotein B of Marek's disease virus.

Fowlpox virus (FPV) recombinants expressing the glycoprotein B and the phosphorylated protein (pp38) of the GA strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) were assayed for their ability to protect chickens against challenge with virulent MDV. The recombinant FPV expressing the glycoprotein B gene elicited neutralizing antibodies against MDV, significantly reduced the level of cell-associated viremia, and, similar to the conventional herpesvirus of turkeys, protected chickens against challenge with the GA strain and the highly virulent RB1B and Md5 strains of MDV. The recombinant FPV expressing the pp38 gene failed to either elicit neutralizing antibodies against MDV or protect the vaccinated chickens against challenge with MDV.     

Fluorescently tagged pUL47 of Marek's disease virus reveals differential tissue expression of the tegument protein in vivo

Marek''s disease virus (MDV), a lymphotropic alphaherpesvirus, causes Marek''s disease (MD) in chickens. MD is characterized by neurological signs, chronic wasting, and T cell lymphomas that predominate in the visceral organs. MDV replicates in a highly cell-associated manner in vitro and in vivo, with infectious virus particles being released only from feather follicle epithelial (FFE) cells in the skin. Virus produced and shed from FFE cells allows transmission of MDV from infected to naïve chickens, but the mechanisms or roles of differential virus gene expression have remained elusive. Here, we generated recombinant MDV in which we fused enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to the C terminus of the tegument protein pUL47 (vUL47-EGFP) or pUL49 (vUL49-EGFP). While vUL49-EGFP was highly attenuated in vitro and in vivo, vUL47-EGFP showed unaltered pathogenic potential and stable production of pUL47-EGFP, which facilitated direct analysis of pUL47 expression in cells and tissues. Our studies revealed that pUL47-EGFP is expressed at low levels and localizes to the nucleus during lytic replication in vitro and in lymphocytes in the spleen in vivo, while it is undetectable in tumors. In contrast, pUL47-EGFP is highly abundant and localizes predominantly in the cytoplasm in FFE cells in the skin, where MDV is shed into the environment. We concluded that differential expression and localization of MDV pUL47-EGFP tegument protein is potentially important for the unique cell-associated nature of MDV in vitro and in lymphocytes in vivo, as well as production of free virus in FFE cells.     

Suppression of humoral immunity in chickens prevents transient paralysis caused by a herpesvirus

Marek's disease virus (MDV)3 is a highly oncogenic herpesvirus that usually causes visceral lymphomas and lymphoid infiltration of the peripheral nerves in chickens. A relatively rare encephalitic condition, first found in farm flocks and referred to as transient paralysis (TP), is also caused by MDV(1). TP symptoms occur 9 to 11 days after MDV inoculation and range from mild ataxia to profound coma. Most birds recover by 24 to 72 hr after onset of symptoms, although severely affected birds may die within the same time period. Previous studies in this laboratory (2) showed that susceptibility to TP is a recessive trait controlled by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (i.e., B complex genes of chickens). Inbred line G-B1 chickens (B13/B13) are resistant to TP, whereas chickens from related inbred lines G-B2 (B6/B6) and G-B3 (B15/B15) are highly susceptible. In this study chickens were immunosuppressed by neonatal cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment or surgical bursectomy (BX) to determine the possible role of antibodies in the pathogenesis of TP.     

Development of an effective polyvalent vaccine against both Marek's and Newcastle diseases based on recombinant Marek's disease virus type 1 in commercial chickens with maternal antibodies

An earlier report (M. Sakaguchi et al., Vaccine 16:472-479, 1998) showed that recombinant Marek's disease virus type 1 (rMDV1) expressing the fusion (F) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV-F) under the control of the simian virus 40 late promoter [rMDV1-US10L(F)] protected specific pathogen-free chickens from NDV challenge, but not commercial chickens with maternal antibodies against NDV and MDV1. In the present study, we constructed an improved polyvalent vaccine based on MDV1 against MDV and NDV in commercial chickens with maternal antibodies. The study can be summarized as follows. (i) We constructed rMDV1 expressing NDV-F under the control of the MDV1 glycoprotein B (gB) promoter [rMDV1-US10P(F)]. (ii) Much less NDV-F protein was expressed in cells infected with rMDV1-US10P(F) than in those infected with rMDV1-US10L(F). (iii) The antibody response against NDV-F and MDV1 antigens of commercial chickens vaccinated with rMDV1-US10P(F) was much stronger and faster than with rMDV1-US10L(F), and a high level of antibody against NDV-F persisted for over 80 weeks postvaccination. (iv) rMDV1-US10P(F) was readily reisolated from the vaccinated chickens, and the recovered viruses were found to express NDV-F. (v) Vaccination of commercial chickens having maternal antibodies to rMDV1-US10P(F) completely protected them from NDV challenge. (vi) rMDV1-US10P(F) offered the same degree of protection against very virulent MDV1 as the parental MDV1 and commercial vaccines. These results indicate that rMDV1-US10P(F) is an effective and stable polyvalent vaccine against both Marek's and Newcastle diseases even in the presence of maternal antibodies.     

Transformation of T-lymphocyte subsets by Marek's disease herpesvirus.

Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDV)-transformed lymphoblastoid tumor cell lines were characterized for the presence of the surface markers. Monoclonal antibodies were used for CD3 (T-cell receptor [TCR] complex), TCR1, TCR2, and TCR3, CD4, CD8, and Ia antigen by indirect fluorescence staining followed by microscopic examination or flow cytometry. The lymphoblastoid cell lines were obtained from tumors from chickens infected with MDV (n = 44) or from local lesions induced by inoculation of allogeneic, MDV-infected chick kidney cells (n = 56). Lymphocytes were harvested from these lesions between 4 and 16 days postinoculation and cultured in vitro to establish cell lines. All cell lines expressed Ia antigen and CD3 and/or TCR and thus are activated T cells. Most of the cell lines developed from tumors were CD4+ CD8-; only one cell line was negative for both markers. Sixteen percent of the cell lines were TCR3+, while the remainder were TCR2+. The cell lines developed from local lesions were much more heterogeneous: 45% were CD4- CD8+, 34% were CD4- CD8-, and only 21% were CD4+ CD8-. The number of TCR3+ cell lines was larger than expected for the CD4- CD8+ and CD4- CD8- cell lines, as judged from the presence of these cells in the blood. These results indicate that several subsets of T lymphocytes can be transformed by MDV, depending on the pathogenesis of infection. Activation of T cells as a consequence of the normal pathogenesis or by allogeneic stimulation seem to be a first important step in the process of transformation.