title: Characterization and cloning of the African horsesickness virus genome.
abstract: The dsRNA profiles of all nine African horsesickness virus (AHSV) serotypes were compared by agarose gel electrophoresis and PAGE. The agarose profiles were identical, but a unique profile was obtained for each of the nine serotypes by PAGE. Nine of the 10 dsRNA genome segments of AHSV-3 were cloned and the clones were used in dot-spot and Northern blot hybridization experiments to determine intra- and inter-serogroup nucleic acid similarities. Segments 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 were highly conserved in the AHSV serogroup and no genetic relationship with any of the other orbiviruses was observed. Of these segments 3, 5 and 8 showed the largest degree of cross-hybridization to the cognate genes of all the serotypes. These clones did not cross-hybridize to other orbiviruses such as epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, bluetongue virus or equine encephalosis virus and are therefore recommended for use as group-specific probes for the identification of the AHSV serogroup. Genome segments 6 and 10 showed an intermediate degree of conservation, whereas segment 2 is serotype-specific and therefore probably codes for the outer capsid protein VP2.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Section, Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huismans
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000356:African Horse Sickness Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015342:DNA Probes; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral