Structure and physical map of the genome of parma wallaby herpesvirus

The DNA of parma wallaby herpesvirus (macropodid herpesvirus 1; MHV-1) was analysed by restriction mapping and Southern hybridizations, and clones of EcoRI and SalI fragments were prepared which represented approximately 85% of the genome. It has a length of about 135 kbp consisting of a long unique sequence joined to a short unique sequence bounded by inverted repeat sequences, and occurs as 2 isomers. These findings place MHV-1 in the herpesvirus structural classification Group D, along with equine herpesvirus 1 and pseudorabies virus, and differentiates it from the other known herpesvirus of Australian marsupials.