Marek’s disease virus antigen (MDV antigen)

Marek’s disease virus antigens refer to a collection of proteins encoded by Marek’s disease virus (MDV), an alphaherpesvirus that infects chickens and causes T-cell lymphomas and immunosuppression. Notable antigens include the phosphoprotein pp38 (associated with viral transformation and always present in transformed cells), the Meq oncoprotein (homologous to the Jun/Fos family and essential for tumor development), and envelope glycoprotein C (gC, important for viral spread and immune evasion). These antigens serve as important immunological and diagnostics markers, and form the basis for vaccine development, but they do not correspond to a single therapeutic target like a host receptor or enzyme. The term "Marek's disease virus antigens" is therefore too broad and imprecise for structured target information, as it encompasses multiple proteins with divergent molecular features and functions, rather than a single defined target molecule.

Other names

Marek’s disease virus antigenMDV antigenMarek’s disease viral antigenSpecific MDV proteins are often called pp38, Meq (oncoprotein), glycoprotein C (gC), etc.

Not applicable for drugs, but for vaccines: induction of protective immune responses (mainly via live-attenuated vaccines, which present MDV antigens to elicit immunity)