dc.contributor.author	Beach, Nathan Matthew	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Pierson, Frank William	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Sriranganathan, Nammalwar	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Larsen, Calvert T.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Meng, Xiang-Jin	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Duncan, Robert B. Jr.	en
dc.contributor.department	Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-14T20:15:13Z	en
dc.date.adate	2006-10-25	en
dc.date.available	2014-03-14T20:15:13Z	en
dc.date.issued	2006-08-04	en
dc.date.rdate	2006-10-25	en
dc.date.sdate	2006-08-14	en
dc.description.abstract	Hemorrhagic enteritis is a disease of turkeys caused by virulent strains of Turkey Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus (THEV) resulting in depression, splenomegaly, intestinal hemorrhage, immunosuppression, and mortality. Avirulent strains that do not produce intestinal lesions and mortality are used in live-virus vaccines that protect turkeys from virulent field challenge. The cause for the difference in phenotype between virulent and avirulent strains is unknown. The full-length genome of the Virginia Avirulent Strain (VAS) of THEV was sequenced and compared to the genome sequence of a virulent field isolate from Israel. Genetic differences were found in seven viral genes. Further sequencing narrowed the focus from seven genes to three: ORF1, E3, and Fiber. Consistent variation in these genes between strains of THEV with different phenotypes strongly indicates these genes as key factors affecting virulence. THEV is an officially recognized member of the viral family Adenoviridae, genus Siadenovirus. The genomes of the members of the genus, THEV and Frog Adenovirus 1, are not well-characterized. The genome sequences of both members were compared for the prediction of genetic and structural elements. Common features were found that distinguish this genus from all other adenoviruses, and differences were found that possibly contribute to host specificity of the members. The VAS is known to stimulate a life-long protective antibody response, though viral replication is only of short duration. Several studies were undertaken to determine changes in virus location and serology over time. Viral DNA was detected in various tissues through 15 weeks post-infection in the presence of high antibody titers. THEV infection was found to be similar to the non-lytic persistent infections seen with human adenoviruses. Regardless of the mechanism involved in the persistent stimulation of antibodies in infected turkeys, the VAS was shown to be an ideal vector for use in a recombinant live-virus vaccine. The next step in THEV research should be the creation of a full-length infectious DNA clone, which could be used in the creation of a recombinant vaccine. The infectious clone would also allow for the systematic testing of genes that are suspected to be involved in virulence.	en
dc.description.degree	Ph. D.	en
dc.identifier.other	etd-08142006-145339	en
dc.identifier.sourceurl	http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08142006-145339/	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28658	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.relation.haspart	Part3.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	Part2.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	title.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	Part1.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	Part4.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	contents.pdf	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Persistent Infection	en
dc.subject	THEV	en
dc.subject	Siadenovirus	en
dc.subject	Hemorrhagic Enteritis	en
dc.title	Characterization of Avirulent Turkey Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus: A Study of the Molecular Basis for Variation in Virulence and the Occurrence of Persistent Infection	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Ph. D.	en

Characterization of Avirulent Turkey Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus: A Study of the Molecular Basis for Variation in Virulence and the Occurrence of Persistent Infection

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