Identification of Avian Infectious Brochitis Virus Variant Serotypes and Subtypes by PCR Product Cycle Sequencing for the Rational Selection of Effective Vaccines
Authors: Gelb, Jr. Jack , Weisman Yoram , Ladman Brian , Meir Rosie 
Published: December 2021

Objectives 1. Determine the serotypic identities of 40 recent IBV isolates from commercial chickens raised in the USA and Israel. 2. Sequence all IBV field isolates using PCR product cycle sequencing and analyze their S 1 sequence to detennine their homology to other strains in the Genbank and EMBL databases. 3. Select vaccinal strains with the highest S 1 sequence homology to the field isolates and perform challenge of immunity studies in chickens in laboratory trials to detennine level of protection afforded by the vaccines. Background Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a common, economically important disease of the chicken. IB occurs as a respiratory form, associated with airsacculitis, condemnation, and mortality of meat-type broilers, a reproductive form responsible for egg production losses in layers and breeders, and a renal form causing high mortality in broilers and pullets. The causative agent is avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Replication of the virus' RNA genome is error-prone and mutations commonly result. A major target for mutation is the gene encoding the spike (S) envelope protein used by the virus to attach and infect the host cell. Mutations in the S gene result in antigenic changes that can lead to the emergence of variant serotypes. The S gene is able to tolerate numerous mutations without compromising the virus' ability to replicate and cause disease. An end result of the virus' "flexibility" is that many strains of IBV are capable of existing in nature. Once formed, new mutant strains, often referred to as variants, are soon subjected to immunological selection so that only the most antigenically novel variants survive in poultry populations. Many novel antigenic variant serotypes and genotypes have been isolated from commercial poultry flocks. Identification of the field isolates of IBV responsible for outbreaks is critical for selecting the appropriate strain(s) for vaccination. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the Sl subunit of the envelope spike glycoprotein gene has been a common method used to identify field strains, replacing other time-consuming or less precise tests. Two PCR approaches have been used for identification, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct automated cycle sequence analysis of a diagnostically relevant hypervariab1e region were compared in our BARD research. Vaccination for IB, although practiced routinely in commercial flocks, is often not protective. Field isolates responsible for outbreaks may be unrelated to the strain(s) used in the vaccination program. However, vaccines may provide varying degrees of cross- protection vs. unrelated field strains so vaccination studies should be performed. Conclusions RFLP and S1 sequence analysis methods were successfully performed using the field isolates from the USA and Israel. Importantly, the S1 sequence analysis method enabled a direct comparison of the genotypes of the field strains by aligning them to sequences in public databases e.g. GenBank. Novel S1 gene sequences were identified in both USA and Israel IBVs but greater diversity was observed in the field isolates from the USA. One novel genotype, characterized in this project, Israel/720/99, is currently being considered for development as an inactivated vaccine. Vaccination with IBV strains in the US (Massachusetts, Arkansas, Delaware 072) or in Israel (Massachusetts, Holland strain) provided higher degrees of cross-protection vs. homologous than heterologous strain challenge. In many cases however, vaccination with two strains (only studies with US strains) produced reasonable cross-protection against heterologous field isolate challenge. Implications S1 sequence analysis provides numerical similarity values and phylogenetic information that can be useful, although by no means conclusive, in developing vaccine control strategies. Identification of many novel S1 genotypes of IBV in the USA is evidence that commercial flocks will be challenged today and in the future with strains unrelated to vaccines. In Israel, monitoring flocks for novel IBV field isolates should continue given the identification of Israel/720/99, and perhaps others in the future. Strains selected for vaccination of commercial flocks should induce cross- protection against unrelated genotypes. Using diverse genotypes for vaccination may result in immunity against unrelated field strains.