title: Stability of varicella-zoster virus open reading frame 63.
abstract: The stability of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame (ORF) 63 was analyzed by sequential passage of a virus strain in cell culture. VZV was propagated in culture for 1,206 passages. ORF63 from six passages (18, 220, 516, 730, 1060, and 1,206) was selected and sequenced. Among the six passages, only passage 1,206 showed point mutations at three locations: 551, 618 and 661. In addition, western blot analysis with anti-ORF63 monoclonal antibodies showed no discernable difference in the size of the ORF63 gene product from passage 18 and that from passage 1,206. These results indicate the stability of VZV ORF63 gene in culture over 1,206 passages.
authors.affiliation: Biologics Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Preparedness, Detection and Control of Infectious Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Merry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vafai
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Hsi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Dongxia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vafai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D017354:Point Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C074551:immediate early protein 63, Human herpesvirus 3