The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of

Henry D Hunt

Larry D Bacon

Lucy F Lee

Bernard C Wentworth

Aly M Fadly

Alice L Wentworth

Herng Tsai

Janet E Fulton

The envelope (env) gene from avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) strain Hc1 has been isolated, sequenced and cloned into an expression vector. The ALV-J Hc1 env gene and expressed protein are useful for development of diagnostic assays to detect Hc1-specific nucleic acid and proteins and for eliciting an immune response in chickens.

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J envelope gene product for diagnosis and

Disclosed herein are cultures of undifferentiated avian primordial germ cells/blastodermal cells. The cultures are capable of maintaining their undifferentiated characteristic and also their capability of expressing the EMA-1 epitope for extended periods when cultured in the presence of an isolate from avian navel (e.g. turkey navel extract). Methods of culturing such cultures using avian navel extracts, and culture media containing avian navel extract are also disclosed. Recombinant birds derived from these cultures are also disclosed. These cultures can be frozen for long-term preservation of germ line genomes.

Avian blastodermal cell lines

Host cells transfected with a recombinant DNA molecule which includes a DNA sequence inserted therein encoding a heterologous chicken BFIV MHC class I protein are disclosed. The transfected cells express the heterologous BFIV protein and may be used as an immunogen to produce chicken MHC class I (BFIV) specific antisera. The antisera so produced may then be used to determine the BF haplotype of any chicken.

Production of antisera specific to major histocompatibility complex

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Okemos, MI, United States of America

Henry D Hunt