Dr. Sanjay Reddy and Dr. Blanca Lupiani are co-principal investigators on a $320,000 grant from USDA entitled "Biochemical and Biological Characterization of the Meq Protein from CV 1998, a Marek's Disease Virus Serotype 1 Vaccine." Marek's disease is a costly and persistent disease in chickens because it continuously evolves into forms that are more virulent and more resistant to vaccines. This research is directed toward gaining better control of the disease by studying this Meq protein that is involved in tumor formation by the Marek's virus.