title: Intratypic variability of a tandem repeat locus within the DNA polymerase gene of human herpes simplex virus type 2.
abstract: In this study, the irntratypic variability of a tandem repeat locus within the DNA polymerase (pol) gene of human herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) was uncovered. The locus contained variable numbers of tandem dodecanucleotide (5'-GAC GAG GAC GGG-3') repetitive units. Our result showed that approximately 95% of analyzed HSV2 clinical isolates and the current GenBank HSV2 strains contained two copies of the repetitive units. From genital herpes specimens, three new HSV2 strains, which respectively contained 1, 3, and 4 copies of the repetitive units, were identified. This variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) locus is absent in HSV1, and thus it also contributes to the intertypic variability of HSV1 and HSV2. The intratypic variability of the locus may be useful for HSV2 strain genotyping and this application is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Singapore National Skin Centre, 1 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308205, Singapore. Yong_Jiang_Sun@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: Yongjiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Roy Kum Wah
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Suat Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences
chemical_list: D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase