Table 1 MDV genes and their respective products involved in immune modulation and pathogenesis

MDV003/078 (vIL-8)

Viral chemotactic (CXCL-) protein involved in recruiting immune systems cells to site of viral replication

–

Lytic replication

[23, 58]

MDV010 (vLIP)

Shares homology to host lipase enzyme and forms covalent bonds with lipids

–

Lytic replication

[136]

MDV011/012

Immune evasion protein that down regulates cell surface MHC I expression

–

Lytic replication

[52]

MDV012 ORF012

Phosphoprotein required for viral growth both in vivo and in vitro

–

[137]

MDV040 (gB)

Hypothetical function: Virion membrane protein that heterodimerizes with other glycoproteins facilitating viral fusion with host membrane

Yes

Lytic replication

[26, 27]

MDV052/053 UL39/40 (RR)

Viral Ribonucleotide Reductase (RR) is essential for replication both in vivo and in vitro

–

Lytic replication

[138]

MDV064 (U_L49.5)

Partially reduces MHC I expression by interacting with TAP protein

–

Lytic replication

[53]

MDV073 (pp38)

Early protein expressed during cytolytic infection and phosphorylated by U_s3p

Yes

Lytic replication

[26–29]

MDV092 (U_s3p)

Serine/threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates pp38

–

Lytic replication

[139]

MDV084/100 (ICP4)

Viral gene transactivation function

Yes

Lytic replication

[26, 27]

MDV001a (vTR)

Required for integration of viral genome into host DNA for immune evasion, neoplastic transformation and viraemia

–

Latency

[140]

MDV006 (pp14)

Neurovirulence factor required for PNS neuropathy (acute or transient paralysis)

–

Latency

[141]

MDV062 (VP22)

Tegument protein essential for viral replication and modulates host cell cycle

–

Latency

[142]

MDV057 (gC/UL44)

Type 1 transmembrane protein required for horizontal transmission/shedding from feather follicle epithelium

–

Feather follicle shedding

[143]

MDV005/076 (MEQ)

Viral oncogenic protein involved in T cell neoplastic transformation which forms homodimers and heterodimers with specific intracellular signalling proteins that modulates host cell cycle

Yes

Neoplastic transformation

[26, 27, 35]

MDV029 (pUL17)

Co-localizes with VP5 and VP13/14 tegument protein and essential for in vivo viral growth, capsid maturation and DNA packaging

–

Neoplastic transformation

[144]