Abstract: Intracerebral inoculation of mice with poliovirus type 2 Lansing induces a fatal paralysis, while most other poliovirus strains are unable to cause disease in the mouse. To determine the molecular basis for Lansing virus neurovirulence, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the Lansing viral genome from cloned cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence was compared with that of two mouse-avirulent strains. There are 83 amino acid differences between the Lansing and Sabin type 2 strain and 179 differences between the Lansing and Mahoney type 1 strain scattered throughout the genome. To further localize Lansing sequences important for mouse neurovirulence, four intertypic recombinants were isolated by exchanging DNA restriction fragments between the Lansing 2 and Mahoney 1 infectious poliovirus cDNA clones. Plasmids were transfected into HeLa cells, and infectious recombinant viruses were recovered. All four recombinant viruses, which contained the Lansing capsid region and different amounts of the Mahoney genome, were neurovirulent for 18- to 21-day-old Swiss-Webster mice by the intracerebral route. The genome of neurovirulent recombinant PRV5.1 contained only nucleotides 631 to 3413 from Lansing, encoding primarily the viral capsid proteins. Therefore, the ability of Lansing virus to cause paralysis in mice is due to the viral capsid. The Lansing capsid sequence differs from that of the mouse avirulent Sabin 2 strain at 32 of 879 amino acid positions: 1 in VP4, 5 in VP2, 4 in VP3, and 22 in VP1.

Abstract: All picornaviral peptides are derived by progressive posttranslational cleavage of a giant precursor polyprotein. Translation of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC) RNA in rabbit reticulocyte extracts produces active viral peptides, including protease 3C, which is responsible for many cleavage reactions within the processing cascade. DNA plasmids containing 5' noncoding sequences of EMC linked to other portions of the viral genome were constructed and transcribed into RNA. Like virion RNA, the clone-derived transcripts directed efficient protein translation in vitro. The 5'-linked constructions may represent examples of a general method for cell-free expression of any cloned gene segment. One construction produced a self-cleaving P3 region precursor, which contained active 3C protease. A genetically engineered insertion within the 3C sequences eliminated endogenous self-cleavage activity without altering the ability of the P3 peptide to serve as substrate in bimolecular reactions with added 3C. Another plasmid encoding the L-VP0 portion of the capsid region was used to demonstrate that scission between the leader peptide (L) and capsid protein VP0 can be catalyzed by 3C. The enzyme responsible for this step was previously unidentified. A rapid purification scheme for isolation of 3C from EMC-infected HeLa cells is also presented.

Abstract: In four cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), we compared biotin-labeled DNA:DNA in situ hybridization with peroxidase immunohistochemistry for the detection of JC virus (JCV). The localization of JCV DNA and JCV capsid protein was compared in formalin- fixed, paraffin-embedded brain tissues. Infected oligodendrocytes showed both JCV DNA and JCV protein. However, bizarre astrocytes demonstrated JCV capsid protein less often than JCV DNA. In situ hybridization with a biotinylated probe was as sensitive and specific as immunohistochemistry for diagnosis on formalin-fixed tissue. The presence of both JCV DNA and viral capsid protein in bizarre astrocytes suggests that these cells are neither truly transformed nor permissively infected, but are distinctively altered by JCV.

Abstract: The inner protein shell of human rotavirus consists of a single polypeptide called VP6 which was removed from the single-shelled virus by treatment with CaCl2, leaving the viral core. The core thus obtained was unable to transcribe. However, the addition of a supernatant containing VP6 in the absence of Ca2+ restored the transcriptional activity. VP6 obtained from different electropherotypes and serotypes was able to restore transcriptional activity to homologous and heterologous cores. Viral cores obtained after incubation with purified VP6 had electron microscopic characteristics, polypeptide compositions, and transcription products similar to those of the single-shelled virus. The results suggested the successful in vitro reconstitution of the single-shelled virus.

Abstract: Summary Immunoelectron microscopy with gold-labelled antibodies showed that homologous capsid proteins or virions are associated with cylindrical inclusions of wheat streak mosaic virus and of wheat spindle streak mosaic virus in vivo. Capsid proteins did not bind to any other structure in the cell. The specific association of capsid proteins with cylindrical inclusions is discussed in relation to cell-to-cell spread of virions through plasmodesmata.

Abstract: The polynucleotide sequence fragment conferring immunologic specificity to papillomavirus (PV) has been located and isolated. From this information, assays for type-specific PV, including DNA probes, RNA probes, immunoassays and the like are produced. The vaccines against specific PVs may be produced also. Further, the genus-specific amino acid sequence of the L1 capsid protein has been identified.

Abstract: The right-hand 80% of the genome of minute virus of mice (MVM) was cloned into the bovine papillomavirus type I shuttle vector and used to transfect mouse C127 cells. Transformed lines were isolated that efficiently produce both authentic MVM capsid proteins at a ratio similar to that seen in a normal viral infection, and these proteins assemble into intact empty virions. The only transcription of MVM sequences detected in these lines was representative of the viral P39 transcription unit, which therefore contains sufficient information to encode both authentic capsid proteins at the same regulated ratio seen in an infected cell.

Abstract: Milligram amounts of highly purified hepatitis A virus (HAV) were obtained from persistently infected cell cultures The HAV polypeptides were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose for detection by an enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot procedure The HAV nucleotide-derived amino acid sequence was subjected to computer analysis to identify potential immunogenic regions within the HAV capsid polypeptides Synthetic peptides corresponding to selected regions of each of the larger putative capsid polypeptides were coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and used to immunize rabbits Four of six anti-HAV peptide sera were strongly reactive Antipeptide serum generated against amino acids (aa) 75 through 82 reacted with the 27,000-molecular-weight (MW) polypeptide; serum against aa 279 through 285 reacted with the 29,000-MW HAV polypeptide; and sera against aa 591 through 602 and 606 through 618 reacted with the 33,000-MW HAV polypeptide These reactions enabled the identification of the gene order of the larger HAV P1 region gene products Our data indicate the following molecular weights: HAV VP2 or 1B, 27,000; HAV VP3 or 1C, 29,000; and HAV VP1 or 1D, 33,000

Abstract: A fusion protein consisting of beta-galactosidase (GZ) to which was attached at its N-terminus the amino acid sequence corresponding to residues 142-160 of the immunogenic protein VP1 of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has been expressed in E. coli. A chemically synthesized section of DNA corresponding to the amino acid sequence 142-160 was inserted into a vector (pXY410) designed to express fusion proteins with the carboxy terminal 1015 amino acids of GZ. The hybrid protein immunopurified by a GZ-specific monoclonal antibody was soluble, retained full GZ activity, and induced virus-neutralizing antibody in guinea pigs and mice. There were significant differences between the responses of individual mice to the FMDV peptide sequence, although the titers against GZ were uniformly high. This variable pattern did not change after hyperimmunization and was demonstrable in a range of mouse strains of different haplotype. The same results were obtained whether the response was measured by virus neutralization or by RIA against the FMDV peptide sequence. The possible reasons for the variable recognition of the FMDV epitopes by individual mice are discussed.

Abstract: The DNA sequence of the region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome encoding the major capsid protein was determined. The predicted protein contains 1374 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 149,075. Comparisons of the amino acid sequence of this protein with those predicted from the published DNA sequences of two other herpesviruses, varicella-zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus, resulted in the identification of the major capsid protein gene in each genome.

Abstract: Summary The complete sequence of the RNA segment that codes for a major outer capsid protein (VP5) of bluetongue virus serotype 10 has been determined from overlapping cDNA clones inserted into pBR322. The segment 5 RNA of the virus (M5 RNA) is deduced to be 1638 base pairs long (1.05 × 106 daltons) and has an open reading frame in one strand capable of coding for a protein with a calculated size of 59163 daltons (526 amino acids) and a net charge of -4.5 at neutral pH.

Abstract: We investigated whether the VP1 protein of simian virus 40 binds to DNA. In vitro DNA-binding experiments clearly indicate that VP1 bound strongly to double-stranded and single-stranded DNA, with a higher affinity for the latter; additional experiments show that VP1 did not bind to a specific sequence of simian virus 40 DNA.

Abstract: We investigated the use of infectious cDNA for the production of poliovirus type 1-type 3 recombinants. One such recombinant virus was produced, but a second construct involving the transfer of part of the capsid protein region was not infectious. Our results suggest that the approach may prove valuable but that not all cDNA constructs will give rise to viable viruses.

Abstract: cDNAs encoding either the structural proteins (capsid and glycoproteins E1 and E2) of Sindbis virus or the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) were fused to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase gene (GAL1) promoter and inserted into a yeast shuttle vector. After addition of galactose to yeast transformed with this vector, 2.5-3% of total yeast protein synthesis was detected as virus proteins by specific anti-virus protein antibodies. In cells containing the Sindbis virus structural genes, the virus capsid protein was effectively released from the nascent polypeptide and two endoglycosidase H-sensitive glycoproteins were produced. One of these was identical in its gel mobility to E1 and the other appeared to be p62, a precursor to E2. A low level of E1 protein was detected on the cell's surface membranes. A single molecular weight species of glycosylated VSV glycoprotein was produced and half of the total protein could be detected at the surface membranes of yeast. Addition of long mannose chains and acylation of the virus proteins with fatty acids were not observed. Formation of virus proteins was also examined in yeast secretory mutants; one of these (sec53) failed to glycosylate the virus proteins.

Abstract: Transfected DNA is frequently broken and rejoined in mammalian cells by recombination processes that depend on minimal nucleotide sequence homology. Although measurements of breakage and joining account reasonably well for the frequent formation of deletions during transfection, they are inadequate to explain the high frequency of deletion formation by simian virus 40 (SV40) genomes that are slightly larger than the packaging limit of the capsid. To investigate this anomaly, we constructed and transfected into CV-1 cells a series of modified SV40 genomes containing 136, 284, 460, and 656 extra base pairs in the intron of the gene encoding T antigen. These experiments indicate that the effective packaging limit of an SV40 capsid lies between 284 and 460 extra base pairs. Further analysis of these transfections suggests that molecules just above the effective packaging limit may be encapsidated and transmitted between cells at low efficiency, thereby allowing multiple rounds of replication and multiple opportunities to generate and package genomes that contain deletions. The junctional sequences in several such deletions were determined; they were similar to the junctions in deletions that were formed before replication began, suggesting that the enzymatic machinery responsible for both types of deletion may be similar.

Abstract: We identified a protein which is covalently linked to a fraction of the DNA synthesized in cells infected with minute virus of mice. This protein is specifically bound to the 5' terminus of the extended terminal conformers of the minute virus of mice replicative-form DNA species and of a variable fraction of single-stranded viral DNA. The chemical stability of the protein-DNA linkage is characteristic of a phosphodiester bond between a tyrosine residue in the protein and the 5' end of the DNA. The terminal protein (TP) bound on all DNA forms has a relative molecular weight of 60,000; it is also seen free in extracts from infected cells. Immunologic comparison of the TP with the other known viral proteins suggests that the TP is not related to the capsid proteins or NS-1.

Abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) directs the synthesis of numerous glycosylated and nonglycosylated infected-cell-specific proteins, many of which are later incorporated into the virion as structural components. In this study, we characterized a nonglycosylated polypeptide complex with the aid of a VZV-specific murine monoclonal antibody clone, 251D9. As detected by indirect immunofluorescence, the antibody bound mainly to antigens located within the nuclei of infected cells and did not attach to an uninfected cell substrate. The polypeptide specificity of the monoclonal antibody was determined by immunoblot analysis of electrophoretically separated infected cell extracts to react with a 32,000-molecular-weight VZV-specific protein (p32); in addition, the antibody also bound to a 36,000-molecular-weight polypeptide. The synthesis of these antigens was unaffected by inhibitors of glycosylation. Nonionic or ionic detergents were only marginally effective in solubilization of the p32-p36 complex, and relatively small amounts were eluted from nuclei by high salt concentrations (2 M NaCl). The same proteins remained associated with the nuclear matrix of VZV-infected cells. We also demonstrated that the protein complex was a major component of purified VZV nucleocapsids; p32 was especially prominent in both full and empty capsids. Immunoblot analysis of the nucleocapsid preparation revealed two additional species (p34 and p38) in the p32-p36 complex. Phosphorylation was a distinctive feature of some of the constituents. In summary, these results indicate that the p32-p36 complex represents a family of structural proteins closely associated with the assembly of VZV nucleocapsids and the encapsidation of viral DNA.

Abstract: The authors developed a quantitative assay for antigens at the single-cell level. Tissue sections were reacted with (i) a primarily antibody , (ii) a biotinylated secondary antibody, or (iii) /sup 35/S-streptavidin. Binding of streptavidin to cells was quantitated by microscopic autoradiography. They showed that the number of autoradiographic grains was proportional to the amount of antigen per cell. With this assay, they studied the synthesis of Theiler's virus capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 in permissive BHK cells grown in vitro and in mouse central nervous system (CNS) cells during a persistent infection. They found that synthesis of the three capsid proteins was restricted in mouse CNS cells. Restricted virus replication could play a major role in the persistence of Theiler's virus in mouse CNS cells.

Abstract: A non-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (YO-60) against human rotavirus was found to be directed to VP2 (90,000-dalton protein), one of the two major components of the inner capsid. The reactivity patterns of the YO-60 antibody were very similar, though not identical, to those of subgroup II-specific YO-5 monoclonal antibody directed to VP6 (42,000-dalton protein), the other major component of the inner capsid. These results indicated the possible presence of a subgroup-specific antigen on VP2 in addition to the one on VP6.

Abstract: The application of a small-scale method for the preparation of antibodies specific for coat proteins of simple plant viruses is described. The method entails the preparative electrophoresis of crude virion extracts, electrophoretic transfer of the resolved proteins onto nitrocellulose paper, excision of a specific protein band, and the attachment and subsequent elution of antibodies specific for the excised protein. The method was tested with brome mosaic virus (BMV) and low molecular weight plantproteins. It was possible to produce antibodies from multiply-reactive sera that reacted only with the proteins used to purify them. Antibodies eluted from BMV coat protein monomer reacted strongly with intact virus in indirect ELISA. Other possible applications of the technique to plant virology are discussed.

Abstract: Summary The inner capsid structure of the OSU strain of porcine rotavirus was studied by electron microscopy of freeze-dried preparations and of negatively stained chemically disrupted virus particles. The analysis of the particles by the freeze-drying technique revealed a T:13 l (laevo) symmetry for the organization of the inner capsid. Treatment of single-capsid rotavirus particles with 30% formamide or 5 m-urea resulted in their degradation, giving rise to very similar products, corresponding to isolated vertices, edges and faces of the virus icosahedron. An analysis of such structures confirmed the triangulation number and handedness of the rotavirus inner capsid, and provided evidence for the open-mesh model, in which the five- and six-coordinated axes are represented by ‘holes’ formed by smaller trimeric morphological subunits.

Abstract: Summary A cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase (PK) activity has been found to be associated with purified particles of cauliflower mosaic virus. The main acceptors of phosphorylation were proteins with mol. wt. of 42000 (the capsid protein), 58000 (which may be the capsid protein precursor) and 110000 (of unknown function). Acid hydrolysis and phosphoamino acid analysis of nucleocapsid proteins phosphorylated in vitro showed that the PK catalyses the transfer of phosphate to both serine and threonine residues. Activation of the PK made the DNA more accessible to DNase I, suggesting that a modification of the structure of the capsid had occurred.

Abstract: Virons of maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) were purified and two major capsid proteins (ca. Mr 29,000 and 22,000) were resolved by SDS-PAGE. When the two major capsid proteins were isolated f