Complete Genome Sequences of Mandrillus leucophaeus and Papio ursinus Cytomegaloviruses.

The complete genome sequences of Mandrillus leucophaeus and Papio ursinus cytomegaloviruses were determined. An isolate from a drill monkey, OCOM6-2, and an isolate from a chacma baboon, OCOM4-52, were subjected to pyrosequencing and assembled. Comparative alignment of published primate cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) showed variable sequence conservation between species.

Evaluation of an interactive, case-based review session in teaching medical microbiology.

Background: Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) has replaced its microbiology wet laboratory with a variety of tutorials including a case-based interactive session called Microbial Jeopardy!. The question remains whether the time spent by students and faculty in the interactive case-based tutorial is worthwhile? This study was designed to address this question by analyzing both student performance data and assessing students' perceptions regarding the tutorial.

Methods: Both quantitative and qualitative data were used in the current study.

Properties of virion transactivator proteins encoded by primate cytomegaloviruses.

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a betaherpesvirus that causes severe disease in situations where the immune system is immature or compromised. HCMV immediate early (IE) gene expression is stimulated by the virion phosphoprotein pp71, encoded by open reading frame (ORF) UL82, and this transactivation activity is important for the efficient initiation of viral replication. It is currently recognized that pp71 acts to overcome cellular intrinsic defences that otherwise block viral IE gene expression, and that interactions of pp71 with the cell proteins Daxx and ATRX are important for this function.

A naturally occurring fatal case of Herpesvirus papio 2 pneumonia in an infant baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis).

Here we describe the unusual finding of herpesvirus pneumonia in a 7-d-old infant baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis). This animal had been separated from its dam the morning of its birth and was being hand-reared for inclusion in a specific pathogen-free colony. The baboon was presented for anorexia and depression of 2 d duration.

Detection of baboon cytomegalovirus (BaCMV) by PCR using primers directed against the glycoprotein B gene.

We have cloned and sequenced the glycoprotein B genes from five strains of BaCMV, isolated from three subspecies of cynocephalus baboons (olive, yellow and chacma). Primers were designed using conserved DNA regions of the gB gene to allow DNA amplification from all strains of BaCMV. These regions differ sufficiently from human CMV that HCMV strains are not amplified, thus allowing differentiation of BaCMV from HCMV.

De novo generation of CD4 T cells against viruses present in the host during immune reconstitution.

T cells recognizing self-peptides are typically deleted in the thymus by negative selection. It is not known whether T cells against persistent viruses (eg, herpesviruses) are generated by the thymus (de novo) after the onset of the infection. Peptides from such viruses might be considered by the thymus as self-peptides, and T cells specific for these peptides might be deleted (negatively selected).

Evaluation of the sanitization effectiveness of a denture-cleaning product on dentures contaminated with known microbial flora. An in vitro study.

Objectives: To see if dentures contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, and herpes simplex virus 1 could be effectively decontaminated by using Medical Tabs for Dentures.

Method And Materials: Ten methylmethacrylate dentures with processed soft liners (soft-liner dentures) and 10 methylmethacrylate dentures without processed soft liners (hard dentures) were aseptically fragmented and individually incubated with a target microorganism. Test denture fragments were immersed in Medical for 5 minutes, vortexed for 5 minutes, and serially diluted onto media.

Isolation of cytomegalovirus and foamy virus from the drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and prevalence of antibodies to these viruses amongst wild-born and captive-bred individuals.

Drill monkeys (Mandrillus leucophaeus) are an endangered species whose indigenous viral flora is largely unknown. We report here the isolation and characterization of both a cytomegalovirus (DrCMV) and a foamy virus (SFV-drl) from drill monkeys. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data placed the DrCMV within a primate CMV clade, and showed that SFV-drl was closely related to baboon foamy viruses.

Isolation and characterization of an endogenous cytomegalovirus (BaCMV) from baboons.

This report describes the isolation of CMV-like viruses from olive, yellow and chacma sub-species of baboons. The viruses were identified as CMVs by their characteristic growth properties in cell culture, virion morphology under the TEM, and antigenic cross-reactivity with other primate CMVs. The glycoprotein B gene homologue from an olive baboon CMV isolate (BaCMV OCOM4-37) was identified, cloned and sequenced.

Simian foamy virus infections in a baboon breeding colony.

The prevalence, transmission, and variation of simian foamy viruses (SFVs) in baboons was investigated. Over 95% of adult baboons in the breeding colony as well as recently imported adult animals had high titers of anti-SFV serum IgG. Maternal antibody was detectable in infants' serum up to 6 months of age.

Primate cytomegaloviruses encode and express an IL-10-like protein.

An open reading frame (ORF) with homology to interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been identified in rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV). The IL-10-like protein is generated from a multispliced, polyadenylated early gene transcript encompassing part of the corresponding UL111A ORF of human CMV (HCMV). Immunological analyses confirm expression of the IL-10-like protein both in tissue culture and in RhCMV-infected rhesus macaques.

Development of a competitive ELISA for detection of primates infected with monkey B virus (Herpesvirus simiae).

Two competitive ELISAs (C-ELISAs) are described that allow detection of antibodies against monkey B virus (BV, Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1). The assays utilize monoclonal antibodies (MABs) directed against the BV glycoprotein B (gB). Two of these MABs specifically recognize BV gB while a third MAB also reacts with the gB homologues of other primate alpha-herpesviruses (herpes simplexvirus-1, HSV-1: HSV-2; simian agent-8, SA8; and Herpesvirus papio-2, HVP2).

Prevalence of Herpesvirus papio 2 in baboons and identification of immunogenic viral polypeptides.

The prevalence of Herpesvirus papio 2 (HVP2) in several groups of captive and wild-caught baboons was determined by detection of anti-HVP2 antibodies in 133 sera of adult baboons. Over 90% of newly imported (wild-caught) adult olive baboons (Papio anubis) from Kenya and chacma baboons (P. ursinus) from South Africa were found to have anti-HVP2 titers.

Genetic and functional complementation of the HSV1 UL27 gene and gB glycoprotein by simian alpha-herpesvirus homologs.

Utilizing co-transfection of DNA from glycoprotein gB- strain of HSV1 and cloned fragments of several simian alpha-herpesviruses containing the UL26, UL27 (gB glycoprotein), and UL28 gene homologs, replication-competent recombinant viruses were produced. Genetic analysis of one HSV1/SA8 recombinant (HSV1/SgB) demonstrated the presence of SA8 DNA comprising the entire UL27 (gB) gene and parts of the UL28 and UL26 ORFs in an otherwise HSV1 genome. The recombinant was shown to express the SA8 gB and p40 proteins (UL27 & UL26.

Characterization of virus-specific and cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae (B virus).

A panel of 13 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced that detect B virus (BV) proteins. Several of these MAbs were highly specific for BV, while the remainder cross-reacted in varying degrees with the other primate alphaherpesviruses. Utilizing western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation analysis, the MAbs were found to detect at least four distinct BV-infected cell antigens, several of which were composed of multiple polypeptides.

Proteolytic cleavage of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein gB is not necessary for its function in BHV-1 or pseudorabies virus.

Glycoprotein B homologs represent the most highly conserved group of herpesvirus glycoproteins. They exist in oligomeric forms based on a dimeric structure. Despite the high degree of sequence and structural conservation, differences in posttranslational processing are observed.

Cleavage of the bovine herpesvirus glycoprotein B is not essential for its function.

Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B (HSVgB) and its bovine herpesvirus homologue (BHVgB) share similar primary structures. These glycoproteins are present in the envelope of the virion and are believed to initiate infection by fusing the virus envelope with a host cell membrane. BHVgB, like the membrane-fusing glycoproteins of most enveloped viruses, is normally cleaved and is present as a disulphide-linked complex in the virus envelope and host cell membranes.

Construction of herpes simplex viruses that are pseudodiploid for the glycoprotein B gene: a strategy for studying the function of an essential herpesvirus gene.

The primary structure of glycoprotein B (gB) is conserved strongly among many members of the Herpesviridae, including some that differ vastly in their natural properties. To determine whether the structural similarity between the gBs of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) was reflected in functional homology, we constructed pseudodiploid HSV-1 virions which, in addition to their own gene encoding gB, also contained a gene for encoding BHV-1 gB. Two kinds of pseudodiploid viruses were constructed.