title: Complete genome sequence of cercopithecine herpesvirus 2 (SA8) and comparison with other simplexviruses.
abstract: We have obtained the complete sequence of the herpesvirus simian agent 8 (SA8; cercopithecine herpesvirus 2) a baboon simplexvirus closely related to the monkey B virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The genome of SA8 is 150,715 bp long, with an overall G/C content of 76%, the highest among the simplexviruses sequenced so far. The sequencing has confirmed that the genomic arrangement of SA8 is similar to that of other simplexviruses: unique long and unique short regions bordered by two sets of inverted repeats. All genes identified in SA8 are homologous and collinear with those of the monkey B virus, including the lack of the RL1 open reading frame, a gene responsible for neurovirulence in human herpes simplex viruses. This latter finding supports the hypothesis that a different pathogenetic mechanism may have developed in human simplexviruses, after their divergence from monkey simplexviruses.
authors.affiliation: National Microbiology Laboratory, Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, 1015 Arlignton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 3R2.
authors.forename: Shaun D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Severini
mesh_terms: D018138:Alphaherpesvirinae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C069210:SA8 glycoprotein B, simian herpesvirus