Sequence analysis of the whole genome of a recombinant Marek's disease virus strain, GX0101, with a reticuloendotheliosis virus LTR insert

Abstract

Marek's disease virus Chinese strain GX0101, isolated in 2001, is the first reported recombinant gallid herpesvirus type 2 (GaHV-2) field strain with one reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) long terminal repeat (LTR) insert. We constructed an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone of GX0101, which showed characteristics very similar to those of the parental virus in replication and pathogenicity. Using the GX0101 BAC clone, the complete genome of GX0101 was sequenced and analyzed. The length of the GX0101 genome is 178,101 bp, and it contains only one REV-LTR insert at a site 267 bp upstream of the sorf2 gene.