Induction of a pH-stable interferon in sheep lymphocytes by Mycoplasmatales virus MVL2

The data presented in this report show that the enveloped Mycoplasmatales virus MVL2 is capable of interferon induction in sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes. The phenomenon was dose dependent, requiring approximately 10(8) plaque-forming units of virus per 2 X 10(6) lymphocytes. The interferon was stable to pH 2.0 treatment, was produced in moderately high levels (greater than 1,000 units), and met many of the criteria for classification as a type I interferon. Heat-inactivated MLV2 lost its ability to induce interferon, whereas ultraviolet-inactivated virus retained its capacity to induce levels comparable to untreated virus. Whereas the MVL2 used in these studies was contaminated with several host cell proteins as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the contaminants probably did not play a role in the induction because isolated cell membranes or soluble cell contents from Achoplasma laidlawii are inactive as inducers. Also presented in this report is a preliminary description of the structural polypeptides of MVL2.