A targeted mutation in ICP8 attenuates duck plague virus by disrupting replication and proposes a vaccine strategy.

ABSTRACT: Controlling duck plague (DP) is essential for waterfowl health and industry productivity. The herpesviral single-stranded DNA-binding protein ICP8 is essential for replication compartment assembly, yet its exploitation for vaccine development in avian herpesviruses is limited. In this study, we generated two ICP8 mutants (H825A and F829A/P830A) in duck plague virus (DPV) via BAC-based homologous recombination. Using structural modeling, in vitro replication kinetics, co-immunoprecipitation, and in vivo duckling models, we assessed impacts on replication complex assembly, virulence attenuation, and safety profiles. The results revealed that both mutants exhibited impaired RC maturation (>60 % arrested in pre-replication foci), reducing viral titers and DNA synthesis. Despite preserved bindi

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12800516 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature