The genome of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) strains exhibiting a neuropathogenic potential compared to known BHV-1 strains by restriction site mapping and cross-hybridization.
Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) strains can be differentiated by their DNA and polypeptide patterns, and by antigenic properties as demonstrated by monoclonal antibodies. We classified the BHV-1 strains according to these data as BHV-1.1, BHV-1.2 (a/b) and BHV-1.3 (a/b). BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2 correspond to the well known 'common' BHV-1 strains, whereas BHV-1.3 has only recently been recognized and exhibits a neuropathogenic potential. In the present paper we describe the structural genome characteristics of BHV-1.3 compared to those of the other BHV-1 strains, examined by means of restriction site mapping, electron microscopy and cross-hybridization. Our results also confirm and complete data concerning BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2 published by other authors. The following main conclusions can be drawn from our investigations: BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2 differences are restricted to distinct genomic regions, characterized by loss or gain of restriction sites. BHV-1.3, however, differs from the other BHV-1 strains in restriction site alterations throughout the whole genome. Electron microscopy showed the typical BHV-1 DNA structure for BHV-1.3. Genetic homology between BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2, reported to be about 95%, was confirmed by cross-hybridization, and a similar high base sequence homology for BHV-1.3 could be shown.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D001911:Herpesvirus 2, Bovine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
D004279:DNA, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes