Figure 1

Plasmid design and general experimental scheme. A Schematic representation of the CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid construct. Major elements including (1) Tk_PA_terminator, (2) pBR322_origin, (3) CMV promoter, (4) GFP, (5) U6 promoter, (6) filler, (7) gRNA scaffold, (8) Ef-1a core promoter, (9) Cas9, (10) nucleoplasmin NLS, (11) poly A signal, and (12) SV40 terminator have been depicted. Note: elements are not depicted in proportion to their size. B Schematic representation of the experimental scheme. On Day 0, one-month-old birds were treated as follows: A, naïve; B, PBS; C, MDV-1^st; D, ST-1^st; and E, ST vector. On Day 5, the birds in Groups C and D were treated with ST and MDV, respectively (treatments were switched). On Days 7 and 14, ST boosting was conducted. At 6^th week post-challenge, two birds from each group were euthanized and used for histopathological analysis by H & E staining. Body weight measurements were conducted until the 9^th week, and mortality was observed until the 14^th week post-immunization.