Publikationsdatenbank

A genetically engineered commercial chicken line is resistant to highly pathogenic avian leukosis virus subgroup J (2021)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Kheimar, Ahmed (WE 5)

Klinger, Romina

Bertzbach, Luca D. (WE 5)

Sid, Hicham

Yu, You (WE 5)

Conradie, Andelé M. (WE 5)

Schade, Benjamin

Böhm, Brigitte

Preisinger, Rudolf

Nair, Venugopal

Kaufer, Benedikt B. (WE 5)

Schusser, Benjamin

Quelle

Microorganisms : open access journal

Bandzählung: 9

Heftzählung: 5

Seiten: Artikel 1066

ISSN: 2076-2607

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/1066

DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051066

Pubmed: 34069313

Kontakt

Institut für Virologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 51833
virologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Viral diseases remain a major concern for animal health and global food production in modern agriculture. In chickens, avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) represents an important pathogen that causes severe economic loss. Until now, no vaccine or antiviral drugs are available against ALV-J and strategies to combat this pathogen in commercial flocks are desperately needed. CRISPR/Cas9 targeted genome editing recently facilitated the generation of genetically modified chickens with a mutation of the chicken ALV-J receptor Na+/H+ exchanger type 1 (chNHE1). In this study, we provide evidence that this mutation protects a commercial chicken line (NHE1ΔW38) against the virulent ALV-J prototype strain HPRS-103. We demonstrate that replication of HPRS-103 is severely impaired in NHE1ΔW38 birds and that ALV-J-specific antigen is not detected in cloacal swabs at later time points. Consistently, infected NHE1ΔW38 chickens gained more weight compared to their non-transgenic counterparts (NHE1W38). Histopathology revealed that NHE1W38 chickens developed ALV-J typical pathology in various organs, while no pathological lesions were detected in NHE1ΔW38 chickens. Taken together, our data revealed that this mutation can render a commercial chicken line resistant to highly pathogenic ALV-J infection, which could aid in fighting this pathogen and improve animal health in the field.