Related Experiment Videos
Characterization of an enterovirus associated with acute infectious lymphocytosis
Abstract:
An enterovirus (EVU-16) previously isolated from children with acute infectious lymphocytosis has been further characterized. The EVU-16 virus sediments as a 135S particle in sucrose gradients, has a density of 1-335 g/ml in CsCl, contains 4 polypeptides and has a single stranded RNA genome sedimenting at 35S. These structural features as well as the presence of a virus-related particle, the procapsid, are similar to those of other enteroviruses. However, the largest polypeptide of EVU-16 is 49000 daltons, which is considerably larger than the corresponding polypeptide from poliovirus; the sizes of the other three viral polypeptides were similar in both viruses. Attempts to induce lymphocytosis by the inoculation of EVU-16 into various animals, including immunologically aberrant 'nude' mice, were unsuccessful.
Insights
This study characterized enterovirus EVU-16, finding structural similarities to other enteroviruses but a larger main polypeptide. Attempts to induce lymphocytosis in animals were unsuccessful.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Enteroviruses are a significant cause of human illness.
- Acute infectious lymphocytosis is a condition observed in children.
- Enterovirus EVU-16 was previously isolated from children with this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To further characterize the enterovirus EVU-16.
- To compare its structural properties with other enteroviruses.
- To investigate its potential to induce lymphocytosis in animal models.
Main Methods:
- Sucrose gradient sedimentation to determine particle size.
- Cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation.
- Polypeptide analysis using SDS-PAGE.
- RNA genome characterization.
- Animal inoculation studies.
Main Results:
- EVU-16 characterized as a 135S particle with 1.335 g/ml density in CsCl.
- The virus contains 4 polypeptides and a 35S single-stranded RNA genome.
- Structural features, including procapsids, resemble other enteroviruses.
- The largest polypeptide (49,000 daltons) is larger than poliovirus's.
- Inoculation did not induce lymphocytosis in mice or other animals.
Conclusions:
- EVU-16 shares structural similarities with other enteroviruses.
- A notable difference is the larger size of its main polypeptide compared to poliovirus.
- EVU-16 did not induce lymphocytosis in the tested animal models.