Mapping of the 5' terminal nucleotides of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 sgRNAs.

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is a positive sense, single stranded RNA virus that has a detrimental effect on wine and table grapes worldwide. Previous studies have shown that GLRaV-3, like other closteroviruses produces subgenomic (sg) RNAs during replication and that these sgRNAs are deployed for the expression of the ORFs on the 3' half of the genome. In this study a dsRNA blot confirmed the presence of three, 3' co-terminal sgRNAs species [sgRNA(ORF3/4), sgRNA(ORF5) and sgRNA(ORF6)] in GLRaV-3-infected plant material when using a probe directed at the coat protein.

Overrepresentation of the founder PPOX gene mutation R59W in a South African patient with severe clinical manifestation of porphyria.

A patient, who presented with abdominal pain and severe photosensitivity that resulted in scarring and mutilation of the fingers, nose and ears, was referred for biochemical assessment of porphyria and DNA screening. Although these clinical manifestations were suggestive of both acute porphyria and congenital erythropoietic porphyria, the biochemical profile was consistent with variegate porphyria (VP). Analysis of the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) gene underlying VP resulted in the identification of the founder mutation R59W in a heterozygous state in this patient.