Molecular biological characterization of adenovirus DNA

The agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, the ethidium bromide fluorescence detection of DNA fragments and restriction endonucleases were discovered at the end of the '60s. The methodological progress enabled institutions equipped with less sophisticated technology to achieve also unique experimental and scientific results in the field of viral DNA research. The team working on virus DNA within the adenovirus research group has constructed several new restriction endonuclease maps of the genomes of human and animal adenoviruses; contributed to the methodology of the determination of specific endonuclease sites, and genome polarity; discovered new restriction endonucleases, adenovirus subtypes, new empty capsid, and genome subpopulations; participated in cooperations leading to novel, although hypothetical approaches in AIDS therapy, taxonomic definition of viruses, and evolutionary origins of adenovirus replication and encapsidation strategy.