In this study the DNA of selected human herpesviruses will be characterized, and the DNA base sequence homologies among those herpesviruses investigated. Of particular interest are the oral and venereal strains of herpes simplex virus and isolates of varicella-zoster virus. For herpes simplex virus, interest is concentrated on the repeated sequences, which are to be cloned. The method for the study of base sequence homology is to construct a DNA heteroduplex composed, for example, of the one cloned DNA strand from herpes simplex virus type 1 and the complementary cloned DNA strand from herpes simplex virus type 2. The heteroduplex is mounted for observation in the electron microscope, along with appropriate length standards. Regions of sufficient homology will appear duplex. Regions of insufficient homology will exist as two unpaired single strands. Detailed physical maps of DNA base sequence homology can be achieved. For varicella-zoster virus DNAs, comparisons of restriction enzyme cleavage patterns of the DNAs from fresh clinical isolates are easier for technical reasons than heteroduplex analysis. In particular, the DNA of a live, attenuated vaccine strain of varicella-zoster virus will be carefully compared to the DNA of the parental wild-type isolate. These related studies are of immediate relevance to human health, because herpes simplex virus causes widespread oral and venereal infections in the human population and varicella-zoster virus causes chicken pox, a highly contagious, ubiquitous disease of childhood.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01CA016498-12
Application #
3164413
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Project Start
1986-03-01
Project End
1988-11-30
Budget Start
1986-03-10
Budget End
1986-11-30
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
129348186
City
Hershey
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
17033
Tenser, R B; Hyman, R W (1987) Latent herpesvirus infections of neurons in guinea pigs and humans. Yale J Biol Med 60:159-67
Hayakawa, Y; Hyman, R W (1987) Isomerization of the UL region of varicella-zoster virus DNA. Virus Res 8:25-31
Shiraki, K; Hyman, R W (1987) The immediate early proteins of varicella-zoster virus. Virology 156:423-6
Spector, D J; Jones, T R; Parks, C L et al. (1987) Hybridization between a repeated region of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA containing the sequence [GGC]n and heterodisperse cellular DNA and RNA. Virus Res 7:69-82
Maguire, H F; Hyman, R W (1986) Polyadenylated, cytoplasmic transcripts of varicella-zoster virus. Intervirology 26:181-91
Parks, C L; Jones, T R; Gonzalez, I L et al. (1986) A simple repetitive sequence common to herpes simplex virus type 1 and human ribosomal DNAs. Virology 154:381-8
Jones, T R; Hyman, R W (1986) Sequences in the proximal IRL of herpes simplex virus DNA hybridize to human DNA. Virus Res 4:369-75
Vlazny, D A; Hyman, R W (1985) Errant processing and structural alterations of genomes present in a varicella-zoster virus vaccine. J Virol 56:92-101
Jones, T R; Parks, C L; Spector, D J et al. (1985) Hybridization of herpes simplex virus DNA and human ribosomal DNA and RNA. Virology 144:384-97