Characterization of nonmeasles paramyxovirus isolates from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Two paramyxovirus isolates recovered from the peripheral blood leukocytes of a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were characterized by biological, immunological, and molecular techniques. Both virus isolates possessed neuraminidase activity but demonstrated reduced hemagglutination potential. Neutralization titrations showed that the viruses were clearly related to, but were distinct from, simian virus 5. Characterization of purified virus preparations by SDS-PAGE showed that the structural polypeptides of the viruses were similar to those of simian virus 5, but distinct differences were noted as well. In addition, the virus isolates were found to differ from one another, particularly with regard to the major putative transcriptase protein (L).