Gazelle herpesvirus 1: a new neurotropic herpesvirus immunologically related to equine herpesvirus 1.
Abstract: A herpesvirus was isolated from Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) kept at a zoological garden in Japan during an outbreak of epizootic acute encephalitis. The virus, gazelle herpesvirus 1 (GHV-1), was serologically related to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). However, DNA fingerprints of GHV-1 were different from those of EHV-1 and other equine herpesviruses. Southern hybridization with probes of cloned BamHI fragments derived from UL and US segments of EHV-1 revealed differences in the DNA restriction profiles throughout the entire genome. Nucleotide sequences were determined for a conserved region of an essential envelope glycoprotein B (gB) gene and a type-specific glycoprotein G (gG) homologue gene. The predicted amino acid sequence of GHV-1 gB showed 97, 92, 61, and 57% identity to EHV-1, EHV-4, feline herpesvirus, and pseudorabies virus, respectively, indicating that GHV-1 was closer to EHV-1 than any other herpesvirus. The GHV-1 gG gene showed 93.2, 92.3, and 53% identity to EHV-1, EHV-8, and EHV-4 gGs, respectively. GHV-1 was virulent to suckling mice of the ICR strain by intracerebral inoculation and was virulent to 4-week-old BALB/c mice by intranasal inoculation, causing neurological symptoms and death. We conclude that GHV-1 is a new type of equine herpesvirus with strong neurotropism.
Publication Date: 1997-01-06 PubMed ID: 9015181DOI: 10.1006/viro.1996.8296Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers identified and isolated a new neurotropic herpesvirus in Thomson’s gazelle, named gazelle herpesvirus 1 (GHV-1), that is serologically related to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) but shows differences on the DNA level.
Herpesvirus Isolation and Identification
- During an outbreak of acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, which can lead to severe neurological symptoms) in Thomson’s gazelle kept in a zoological garden in Japan, the researchers isolated a herpesvirus, which they named Gazelle Herpesvirus 1 (GHV-1).
- This virus was found to be serologically related to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). This means that the immune response (as measured by testing the presence of virus-specific antibodies in the blood) was similar for EHV-1 and GHV-1.
DNA Analysis and Comparison with Other Herpesviruses
- Despite the serological connection to EHV-1, the DNA fingerprints of GHV-1 differed from those of EHV-1 and other equine herpesviruses. DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to identify and differentiate different virus strains based on their unique DNA patterns.
- The researchers performed a Southern hybridization with probes of cloned sections of EHV-1’s DNA to further investigate the differences between GHV-1 and EHV-1. They found differences in the DNA restriction profiles throughout the entire genome of the gazelle virus.
- The team also determined nucleotide sequences for specific areas in the GHV-1 genome associated with the coding of vital envelope glycoproteins. The genetic material for the GHV-1 glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein G (gG) was particularly examined and compared to those in EHV-1 and other herpesviruses.
Genomic Similarities and Differences
- The predicted amino acid sequence of the gB glycoprotein of GHV-1 showed 97% identity to EHV-1, 92% identity to EHV-4, 61% to feline herpesvirus, and 57% to pseudorabies virus. This suggests GHV-1’s gB gene is more similar to that of EHV-1 than any other herpesvirus studied.
- Similarly, GHV-1’s gG gene showed 93.2% identity to EHV-1, 92.3% identity to EHV-8, and 53% identity to EHV-4. Again, this indicates more similarity between GHV-1 and EHV-1 for this gene.
Pathogenicity and Virulence
- The gazelle herpesvirus was found to be virulent (capable of causing disease) in suckling mice and 4-week-old mice, leading to severe neurological symptoms and death upon intracerebral and intranasal inoculation, respectively.
- The strong neurotropism (preference for nerve tissue) of GHV-1 exhibits characteristics of a potentially severe and damaging central nervous system pathogen.
Conclusion
- This research concludes that GHV-1 is a new type of equine herpesvirus. It shares strong similarities with EHV-1 but has significant differences at the genetic level and displays a distinct pathogenic profile.
Cite This Article
APA
Fukushi H, Tomita T, Taniguchi A, Ochiai Y, Kirisawa R, Matsumura T, Yanai T, Masegi T, Yamaguchi T, Hirai K.
(1997).
Gazelle herpesvirus 1: a new neurotropic herpesvirus immunologically related to equine herpesvirus 1.
Virology, 227(1), 34-44.
https://doi.org/10.1006/viro.1996.8296 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-11, Japan. hfukushi@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antelopes / virology
- Base Sequence
- Cell Line
- DNA Fingerprinting
- DNA, Viral
- Encephalitis, Viral / pathology
- Encephalitis, Viral / veterinary
- Encephalitis, Viral / virology
- Female
- Herpesviridae / classification
- Herpesviridae / isolation & purification
- Herpesviridae / pathogenicity
- Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / virology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Serotyping
Citations
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