title: Partial characterization of a novel gammaherpesvirus isolated from a European badger (Meles meles).
abstract: A herpesvirus causing a cytopathic effect was isolated from pulmonary fibroblast cultures established from a European badger (Meles meles). A study was undertaken to classify and to assess some in-vitro growth characteristics of this virus. From a panel of 27 mammalian cell lines, in-vitro replication of the badger herpesvirus (BadHV) was only demonstrated with a mink lung cell line, suggesting a high degree of host specificity. Using PCR with degenerate primers, three independent fragments of the BadHV genome were sequenced. The largest of these fragments comprised a 6.2 kb segment including the DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B genes. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated that the BadHV is novel and clearly grouped with members of the Gammaherpesvirinae. In view of the oncogenic and immunosuppressive potential of many related herpesviruses, it is possible that BadHV can impact on existing acute or chronic disease in badgers.
authors.affiliation: Virology1 and Biotechnology2 Departments, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.affiliation: Virology1 and Biotechnology2 Departments, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Virology1 and Biotechnology2 Departments, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daniells
authors.affiliation: Virology1 and Biotechnology2 Departments, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stagg
authors.affiliation: Division of Wildlife, SVA (National Veterinary Institute), PO Box 7073, S-75007 Uppsala, Sweden3.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gavier-Widen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung; D008907:Mink; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase