Functional analysis of novel microRNAs encoded by avian herpesviruses

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This proposal aims to examine the role of Marek's disease virus-encoded micro RNAs in the pathogenicity of Marek's disease, a highly contagious neoplastic disease of poultry characterised by the development of rapid-onset lymphomas. As part of this project, we have identified several novel microRNAs encoded by the members of the genus Mardivirus including 13 in MDV-1, 17 in MDV-2 and 11 in herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), a vaccine strain closely related to MDV-1 and MDV-2. All these microRNAs are expressed at very high levels in infected/transformed cells, suggesting a direct role for these microRNAs in the biology of the virus infection and disease. In this proposal, we aim to carry out detailed examination of the targets for these microRNAs, analyse their expression in MDV-transformed cell lines/tumours and use the reverse genetics system of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones of the 3 serotypes to examine the role in the natural target host disease models.

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