In vitro infection of primary chicken lymphocytes with Marek's disease virus

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a highly oncogenic alphaherpesvirus that infects immune cells and causes a deadly lymphoproliferative disease in chickens. Cytokines and monoclonal antibodies promote the survival of chicken lymphocytes in vitro. Here, we describe protocols for the isolation, maintenance, and efficient MDV infection of primary chicken lymphocytes and lymphocyte cell lines. This facilitates the investigation of key aspects of the MDV life cycle in the primary target cells of viral replication, latency, genome integration, and reactivation.

Automated summary

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a highly oncogenic alphaherpesvirus that causes fatal lymphoproliferative disease in chickens by infecting immune cells. This study presents protocols for the isolation, maintenance, and efficient MDV infection of primary chicken lymphocytes and lymphocyte cell lines, facilitating the investigation of key aspects of the MDV life cycle in target cells.