Herpesvirus papio 2 encodes a virion host shutoff function.
Infection of baboons with herpesvirus papio 2 (HVP-2) produces a disease that is similar to human infection with herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Molecular characterization of HVP-2 has demonstrated that the virion contains a factor which rapidly shuts off host cell protein synthesis after infection. Reduction of host cell protein synthesis occurs in parallel with the degradation of mRNA species. A homolog of the HSV virion host shutoff (vhs) gene was identified by Southern and DNA sequence analysis. The sequence of the HVP-2 vhs gene homolog had greater than 70% identity with the vhs genes of HSV 1 and 2. Disruption of the HVP-2 vhs open reading frame diminished the ability of the virus to shut off protein synthesis and degrade cellular mRNA, indicating that this gene was responsible for the vhs activity. The HVP-2 model system provides the opportunity to study the biological role of vhs in the context of a natural primate host. Further development of this system will provide a platform for proof-of-concept studies that will test the efficacy of vaccines that utilize vhs-deficient viruses.
Bigger
John E
JE
Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, Texas 78227-5301, USA.
Martin
David W
DW
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010215:Papio; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014771:Virion / Q000254:growth & development; D014779:Virus Replication
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins; C064566:herpes simplex virus type 2 protein UL41; C070722:virion host shutoff protein, Simplexvirus; D012260:Ribonucleases