Investigation of local South African avipoxviruses as potential vaccine vectors

Avipoxviruses are large, genetically diverse DNA viruses which are particularly desirable for use as vaccine vectors as a result of their excellent safety profile and host range restriction. In this study, 8 novel South African (SA) avipoxvirus isolates were characterized. They could be divided into five groups, according to gross pathology and pock appearance on CAMs. Histopathology revealed distinct differences in epidermal and mesodermal cell proliferation, as well as immune cell infiltration, caused by the different avipoxviruses. Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on several conserved poxvirus genetic regions, corresponding to vaccinia virus (VACV) A3L (fpv167 locus, VACV P4b), G8R (fpv126 locus, VLTF-1), H3L (fpv140 locus, VACV H3L) and A11R–A12L (fpv175–176 locus). The SA isolates all grouped in clade A, either in subclade A2 or A3 of the genus Avipoxvirus, with branching patterns which differed according to the locus analysed.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Offerman, Kristy-Maree

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Williamson, Anna-Lise
• Douglass, Nicola

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12869

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12869