title: A herpes simplex virus type 2 variant in which a deletion across the L-S junction is replaced by single or multiple reiterations of extraneous DNA.
abstract: We have isolated and characterized a novel variant of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain HG52 which has a deletion of 13.5 kb across the L-S junction of the genome, resulting in all of the IRL region, half of the IRS region and the intervening L-S junction 'a' sequence(s) being removed. The deleted DNA has been replaced by single or multiple (up to 14) reiterations of a DNA sequence approximately 1 kb in length. Individual genomes within the population range in size from approximately 12 kb smaller than unit length to unit length or marginally larger. The L component of the genome is fixed in the prototype orientation while the S component inverts inefficiently. The variant is viable in tissue culture, is not temperature-sensitive, demonstrates impaired single-cycle growth characteristics and, apart from altered mobility of a single species (29.5K), its polypeptide profile in infected cells appears normal. Southern blot analysis has failed to identify the inserted sequences as being derived from HSV-2.
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harland
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005810:Multigene Family; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI; C025580:endodeoxyribonuclease XBAI; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific