Related Experiment Videos
Molecular characterization of the Borna disease agent
J C de la Torre1, K M Carbone, W I Lipkin
1Department of Neuropharmacology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.
Virology
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Borna disease (BD) is a neurological syndrome. Research suggests the infectious agent is a negative-sense, single-strand RNA virus, offering new insights into this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Borna disease (BD) is a neurological syndrome causing behavioral disturbances and antigen accumulation in limbic neurons.
- The infectious agent's nature has been elusive, though its infectivity is reduced by detergents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the Borna disease agent.
- To determine the molecular nature of the infectious agent responsible for Borna disease.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of clones derived from the BD agent.
- Analysis of viral genome size and RNA transcripts.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests the BD agent is a negative-sense, single-strand RNA virus.
- The viral genome is approximately 8.5 kb, associated with nuclei.
- Two major RNA transcripts (2.1 and 0.8 kb) were encoded.
Conclusions:
- The Borna disease agent is identified as a novel RNA virus.
- This finding provides a molecular basis for understanding Borna disease pathogenesis.