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Sequence characterization of human Borna disease virus
J C de la Torre1, L Bode, R Dürrwald
1Viral-Immunology laboratory, Scripps Research Institute 92037 CA, USA. juanct@riscsm.scripps.edu
Virus Research
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Borna disease virus (BDV) may infect humans, potentially linking to mental disorders. This study characterizes human BDV sequences from psychiatric patients, showing conservation with animal strains.
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Borna disease virus (BDV) causes central nervous system disease and behavioral changes in animals.
- Human BDV infection is suggested by seroepidemiologic data and detection in psychiatric patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the sequence of human Borna disease virus isolates for the first time.
- To compare human BDV sequences with those from naturally infected animals.
Main Methods:
- BDV was isolated from PBMCs of three psychiatric patients via co-cultivation.
- Sequence identification of BDV open reading frames (ORFs) p24, p16, p56, and the L polymerase catalytic domain was performed.
Main Results:
- Human BDV was successfully recovered and sequenced from psychiatric patients.
- Each human BDV isolate exhibited a unique sequence.
- Human BDV isolates showed high sequence conservation with animal BDV strains.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first sequence characterization of human Borna disease virus.
- The findings support the potential role of BDV in human mental disorders.
- Human BDV shares significant sequence homology with animal BDV, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.