Physical maps of varicella-zoster virus DNA derived with 11 restriction enzymes.

Varicella-zoster virus DNA was digested with 11 restriction endonucleases, and the resulting fragments were separated on agarose gels. Terminal fragments were identified by lambda exonuclease digestion. Physical maps were then constructed using a combination of double restriction enzyme digestion and hybridization to cloned BamHI fragments to place the remaining fragments in order.

The relationship of hepatitis B e antigen, DNA polymerase activity, and titer of hepatitis B surface antigen with ongoing liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of circulating viral markers with ongoing liver disease in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was significantly more likely to be associated with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity than was anti-HBe in a group of 102 HBsAg carriers (p less than 0.0001).

Restriction endonuclease analysis of varicella-zoster vaccine virus and wild-type DNAs.

The DNA from several clinical isolates of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were compared with the DNA from the vaccine strain VZV using three restriction endonucleases: BamHI, BgII, and HpaI. When electrophoresed through an agarose gel, the vaccine DNA digestion pattern was significantly different from the digestion patterns of the wild-type DNAs. Variations in the digestion pattern of the separate clinical isolates were also observed.

Varicella-zoster virus transformation of hamster embryo cells.

Varicella-zoster virus infection of primary hamster embryo cells resulted in oncogenic transformation. These transformed cells exhibited virus-specific antigens by immunofluorescence and developed surface Fc receptors. They induced aggressive fibrosarcomas when injected into inbred hamsters.