Molecular analysis of simian varicella virus DNA Journal Article


Authors: Clarke, P.; Rabkin, S. D.; Inman, M. V.; Mahalingam, R.; Cohrs, R.; Wellish, M.; Gilden, D. H.
Article Title: Molecular analysis of simian varicella virus DNA
Abstract: Clinical and pathological studies indicate that simian varicella virus (SVV) infection in primates is the counterpart of human varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. The SVV and VZV genomes are also similar in size and structure. To extend studies of SVV DNA, we analyzed virus DNA from African green monkey kidney cells infected with the Delta-herpesvirus strain of SVV. The infectivity of SVV DNA was 88 PFU/μg. The buoyant density of SVV DNA, determined by isopycnic banding in CsCl gradients, was 1.700 ± 0.002 g/ml, corresponding to a G + C molar ratio of 40.8%. The size of SVV DNA, estimated by analysis of restriction endonuclease digestion products and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was 125.1 and 124.9 kbp, respectively. Electron microscopy of SVV DNA revealed a long region of 110.0 kbp, a unique short (Us) region of 5.1 kbp, and inverted repeat regions of 7.5 kbp flanking the Us. An EcoRI map of SVV DNA revealed two fragments not previously reported; our complete PstI map also shows some differences. Mapping of SVV DNA with an additional restriction enzyme, measurement of full-length SVV DNA molecules, and the first use of pulsed-field electrophoresis to size SVV DNA, confirm and extend Gray's recent finding that SVV DNA has the same size and molecular configuration as VZV. We also show for the first time that the density of SVV DNA is similar to that of VZV DNA and that SVV DNA is infectious. © 1992.
Keywords: nonhuman; animal cell; animal; electron microscopy; microscopy, electron; cell line; enzyme activity; transfection; cercopithecus aethiops; strain difference; animalia; genetic transfection; herpes virus; herpesviridae; restriction endonuclease; dna, viral; dna structure; sequence homology; virus genome; herpes; molecular weight; dna determination; chickenpox; pulsed field gel electrophoresis; electrophoresis, gel, pulsed-field; primates; varicella zoster virus; kidney cell; restriction mapping; haplorhini; plaque assay; base composition; simiae; simian virus; priority journal; article; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; sal vieja virus; cercopithecine herpesvirus 9; human herpesvirus 3; varicella virus
Journal Title: Virology
Volume: 190
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0042-6822
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1992-10-01
Start Page: 597
End Page: 605
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(92)90897-x
PUBMED: 1519354
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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