Molecular biology of bovine herpesvirus type 4.
Bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BHV-4) is a ubiquitous virus of cattle. Its genome is a 144 +/- 6 kb double-stranded DNA consisting of a unique central part (L-DNA) flanked at both ends by tandem repeats called polyrepetitive DNA (prDNA or H-DNA). The overall arrangement of genes has been obtained by the analysis of homologies between short BHV-4 DNA sequences and corresponding genes of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and herpesvirus saimiri (HVS). The gene expression is temporally regulated. Glycoprotein precursor p (gp10/gp17) is expressed as gamma 1 polypeptide. Glycoproteins gp1, gp8, gp11 and their precursors are gamma 2 proteins. The analysis of strain variations allows the definition of two types of strains, based on the DNA patterns: the Movar 33/63-like and the DN 599-like strains. Only the M40 strain, isolated in India, fails to fit this classification. The genomic variations have been compiled to build a dendrogram showing three levels of divergence between BHV-4 strains or isolates. The available molecular data indicate that the BHV-4 genome shares much similarity with the DNA of EBV and HVS, two representative members of the gammaherpesvirinae. BHV-4 may therefore be classified in the subfamily gammaherpesvirinae.
Thiry
E
E
Department of Virology-Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
Bublot
M
M
Dubuisson
J
J
Van Bressem
M F
MF
Lequarre
A S
AS
Lomonte
P
P
Vanderplasschen
A
A
Pastoret
P P
PP
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins