The DNA sequence of the simian varicella virus genome

WL Gray, B Starnes, MW White, R Mahalingam - Virology, 2001 - Elsevier
WL Gray, B Starnes, MW White, R Mahalingam
Virology, 2001Elsevier
In nonhuman primates, simian varicella virus (SVV) causes a natural disease which is
clinically similar to human varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections. The SVV and VZV
genomes are similar in size and structure and share extensive DNA homology. This report
presents the complete DNA sequence of the SVV genome. SVV DNA is 124,138 bp in size,
746 bp shorter than VZV DNA, and 40.4% G+ C. The viral genome includes a 104,104-bp
unique long component bracketed by 8-bp inverted repeat sequences and a short …
In nonhuman primates, simian varicella virus (SVV) causes a natural disease which is clinically similar to human varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections. The SVV and VZV genomes are similar in size and structure and share extensive DNA homology. This report presents the complete DNA sequence of the SVV genome. SVV DNA is 124,138 bp in size, 746 bp shorter than VZV DNA, and 40.4% G + C. The viral genome includes a 104,104-bp unique long component bracketed by 8-bp inverted repeat sequences and a short component composed of a 4904-bp unique short region bracketed by 7557-bp inverted repeat sequences. A total of 69 distinct SVV open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, including three that are duplicated within the inverted repeats of the short component. Each of the SVV ORFs shares extensive homology to a corresponding VZV gene. The only major difference between SVV and VZV DNA occurs at the leftward terminus. SVV lacks a VZV ORF 2 homolog. In addition, SVV encodes an 882-bp ORF A that is absent in VZV, but has homology to the SVV and VZV ORF 4. The results of this study confirm the relatedness of SVV and VZV and provide further support for simian varicella as a model to investigate VZV pathogenesis and latency.
Elsevier