Transcription profiling by array of differential gene expression in chicken primary B cells infected ex vivo with attenuated and very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) belongs to the family Birnaviridae and is economically important to the poultry industry worldwide. IBDV infects B cells in the bursa of Fabricius (BF), which can cause severe immunosuppression and mortality in young chickens. Earlier studies have shown that strains of IBDV lose their virulence potential after serial passage in non-B lymphoid cells, for reasons that are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the gene expression profiles of one cell-culture adapted attenuated IBDV strain (D78) and one very virulent IBDV strain (UK661) in chicken primary B cells cultured ex vivo from the bursa of Fabricius. The viruses were studied in B cells over 48h and their gene expression was initially evaluated with qPCR. The mRNA was isolated from the cells at 18 hours post-infection and screened with Affymetrix microarrays in triplicate. The study included mock controls which were conducted in triplicate.

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