Characterization and mapping of simian varicella virus transcripts

• Published in: Journal of general virology 1993-08, Vol.74 (8), p.1639-1643
• Main Authors: Gray, Wayne L, Gusick, Nanette, Fletcher, Thomas M, Pumphrey, Carla Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cercopithecus aethiops; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - genetics; Genetics; Herpesvirus 3, Human - genetics; Microbiology; Restriction Mapping; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Viral - genetics; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Vero Cells; Virology
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-74-8-1639

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 4301 West Markham Street, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, U.S.A. The size and genomic location of viral transcripts expressed in simian varicella virus (SVV)-infected Vero cells were determined. Total cellular RNA and polyadenylated RNA were isolated from SVV-infected and mock-infected Vero cells. Viral transcripts were detected by Northern blot hybridization analysis using overlapping SVV DNA probes representative of the entire SVV genome. The results indicated that all regions of the SVV genome are transcribed during SVV infection in vitro . At least 53 distinct viral RNA species ranging in size from 9·2 to 0·8 kb were detected. DNA probes derived from the SVV DNA long (L) and short (S) components hybridized to 44 RNAs (9·2 to 0·8 kb) and nine RNAs (4·9 to 0·8 kb), respectively. A transcript map of the SVV genome was constructed. The comparison made between the transcript maps of SVV and varicellazoster virus (VZV) provides further support that the SVV and VZV genomes have an analogous gene organization. Received 3 February 1993; accepted 10 March 1993.