The in vivo and in vitro effects of chicken interferon alpha on infectious bursal disease virus and Newcastle disease virus infection

Avian Dis. 2001 Apr-Jun;45(2):389-99.

Abstract

The in vitro and in vivo effects of chicken interferon alpha on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection were investigated in this study. A cDNA of interferon alpha was first cloned from a Chinese strain chicken Shiqi by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The deduced amino acid sequence has one amino acid substitution with chicken interferon alpha 1 at residue 65 (N to S) and two amino acid substitutions with chicken interferon alpha 2 at residues 50 (N to S) and 58 (P to L), respectively. A prokaryotic expression system was employed to produce a large quantity of recombinant protein. Recombinant interferon was purified in a one-step process, and an optimal refolding process was devised. About 51% recombinant protein from inclusion bodies was refolded, and the final yield of the recombinant interferon reached 24.66 mg/liter culture. The recombinant interferon suppressed IBDV plaque formation in a dose-dependent manner and ameliorated IBDV and Newcastle disease virus infection in both specific-pathogen-free (SPF) and commercial chickens. The antiviral effect of interferon alpha is more significant in commercial chickens than in SPF chickens, and the route of administration affects the efficacy of interferon therapy. This is the first reported study of the effects of interferon alpha on IBDV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / immunology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Base Sequence
  • Birnaviridae Infections / drug therapy
  • Birnaviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Chickens*
  • DNA, Complementary / analysis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Routes / veterinary
  • Infectious bursal disease virus / immunology
  • Interferon Type I / chemistry
  • Interferon Type I / genetics
  • Interferon Type I / immunology
  • Interferon Type I / therapeutic use*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Newcastle Disease / drug therapy*
  • Newcastle disease virus / immunology
  • Poultry Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Poultry Diseases / virology
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Interferon Type I
  • Recombinant Proteins