Marek's disease lymphoma sequencing. Gallus gallus breed:White Leghorn

Marek's disease (MD), a lymphoproliferative disease of chickens caused by the highly pathogenic Marek's disease virus (MDV) is the most serious chronic disease problem in the global poultry industry. Despite control measures including biosecurity and MD vaccines, new and more virulent MDV strains have and are predicted to arise resulting in disease outbreaks. Thus, there is a critical need to improve existing measures or provide alternatives. This study seeks to characterize the genome landscapes of MD tumors using and integrating DNA and RNA genomic screens (whole genome sequencing, mRNA sequencing, and targeted deep sequencing of specific loci) of MD tumors and matched normal tissue from genetically-defined experimental chickens. Specifically, analyses focus on somatic mutation frequency, distribution, and signature; tumor clonality and purity; genetic drivers of MD tumors, and gene expression signatures in relation to somatic mutations.