Archives of Virology

Nagai, Yoshiyuki

doi: 10.1007/bf01317133pmid: N/A

Cistué, C.; Tabarés, E.

doi: 10.1007/bf01317142pmid: 1550491

SummaryThe VP 73 protein was produced by in vitro transcription and translation from the Xho I-Bam HI fragment located between the Cla I-N and Cla I-H fragments of the viral genome. This DNA fragment encodes a late mRNA of about 2.6 kb detected in infected MS monkey and BHK hamster cells. The transcript was initiated at a site within two bases upstream of the translation initiation codon. The in vitro synthesized polypeptide shows the same molecular weight as the in vivo synthesized polypeptide, suggesting that VP 73 has no post-translational modification. There are two internal AUG initiation codons for in vitro translation, one of which is functional in vivo, as well as a possible GUG initiator codon detected by expression of the protein inE. coli cells.

O'Neill, H. J.; Coyle, P. V.

doi: 10.1007/bf01317143pmid: 1550492

SummaryDuring an outbreak of parvovirus B 19 in 1989 in Northern Ireland, 7580 blood donors were screened for B 19 antigen. Two units screened positive, one of which was obtained for use as viral antigen. A monoclonal antibody (R92F6) made against this antigen was specific for B 19 capsid proteins VP 1 and VP 2. The monoclonal antibody was used in the development of 2 anti-B 19 IgM capture enzyme assays. These used a conventional substrate (O-phenylene diamine) and a chemiluminescent signal reagent. There was excellent concordance between the 2 assays. A total of 403 patients sera were tested and 65 sera were positive in each assay.

González-Juarrero, M.; Lunney, J. K.; Sánchez-Vizcaíno, J. M.; Mebus, C.

doi: 10.1007/bf01317145pmid: 1550493

SummaryExpression of viral and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and localization of T cells and macrophages was studied in frozen tissue sections of spleens taken from normal pigs or from pigs inoculated with highly virulent Lisbon 60 (L60), or with moderately virulent Dominican Republic 1978 (DR-II), African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates. Splenic sections from L60 inoculated pigs exhibited a large decrease in macrophage staining, whereas DR-II infected animals appeared more intensely stained in the macrophage sheath arteries. Class I and class II MHC expression was decreased in spleens from pigs infected with either isolate at 3 day post inoculation (DPI). This was reversed in DR-II inoculated pigs at 4 DPI. Splenic tissue sections from L60 inoculated pigs exhibited only a marginal increase in SLA expression at a later time, 6 DPI. We suggest that the recovery of SLA expression during infection of pigs with ASFV is associated with survival or replacement of macrophages in the spleen leading to an effective immune response against the virus.

Charlton, K. M.; Artois, M.; Prevec, L.; Campbell, J. B.; Casey, G. A.; Wandeler, A. I.; Armstrong, J.

doi: 10.1007/bf01317147pmid: 1550495

SummaryA new recombinant rabies vaccine (human adenovirus 5 containing the rabies glycoprotein gene) was given to striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Groups of skunks received the vaccine in baits, by direct instillation into the mouth, or intramuscularly. Foxes were given vaccine by direct instillation into the oral cavity (DIOC). Selected groups of vaccinated skunks and foxes were challenged with street rabies virus.There were high rates of seroconversion (generally with high antibody titers) in both foxes and skunks, with survival of all challenged vaccinated animals (all challenge controls developed rabies). In skunks, vaccine given DIOC was effective over a broad range of doses (108.7, 107.6 and 106.4 median tissue culture infective doses). There was no evidence of pathogenic effects. The results indicate that this adenovirus recombinant has considerable potential as a wildlife oral rabies vaccine.

Vos, J. C.; Mercer, A. A.; Fleming, S. B.; Robinson, A. J.

doi: 10.1007/bf01317152pmid: 1312824

SummaryDNA fragments containing varying lengths of the 5′ end of an orf virus early gene (ORF 3) and its associated promoter were introduced into sodium deoxycholate-solubilized vaccinia virus extracts capable of initiating transcription in vitro from vaccinia virus early promoters. After separation of the radiolabelled products of the reactions on a 5% polyacrylamide/7 M urea gel, discrete transcripts were detected the sizes of which were consistent with initiation of transcription from the orf virus early promoter. This is the first demonstration in a functional assay of the conservation of early transcriptional promoters between an orthopoxvirus and a parapoxvirus.