There are three potential projects for students to work on in the Cardona laboratory depending on their particular interests. One project focuses on the problems of a local farmer who raises bobwhite quail. Every year, bobwhite quail west of the Rocky mountains succumb to quail malaria caused by Haemoproteus lophortyx. We have worked on determining potential vectors of this disease, and the role of immunity in gaining resistance to it over the past 2 years. As this project enters its next phase, developing methods to control this disease will begin.
A second project is more laboratory-based and will work with a herpesvirus of chickens, Marek’s disease virus. This virus causes tumors in chickens and is currently controlled with vaccination. Our studies involve the function of a gene unique to oncogenic Marek’s disease viruses, a virally encoded homologue of interleukin 8. Although this protein is chemotactic, its specific role in the pathogenesi s of Marek’s disease is unknown.
A third and final potential project focuses on the cloning and expression of a coronavirus of chickens, infectious bronchitis virus. This virus is ubiquitous among commercial and non-commercial poultry worldwide and remains a very difficult virus to study. The single-stranded RNA genome rapidly mutates and recombines readily thus, making it a moving target. We are currently developing a reverse genetics system for a local California infectious bronchitis virus isolate. Please contact Dr. Cardona at cjcardona@ucdavis.edu for further information.