BOVINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS: A TANTALIZING STORY

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

BOVINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS: A TANTALIZING STORY

Symp Soc Gen Microbiol; 37:197-216 1985. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/86622297
Burny A; Bruck C; Cleuter Y; Couez D; Deschamps J; Ghysdael J; Gregoire D; Kettmann R; Mammerickx M; Marbaix G; et al; Faculty of Agronomy, Gembloux, Belgium

Abstract: Characteristics of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) proviral sequences and BLV proteins are reviewed, and the potency of an ELISA detection method using a monoclonal antibody to gp51 epitope E is illustrated. The X region of the provirus seems to encode a protein the action of which is critical for cell transformation. The virus carries a function directly involved in transformation, but still induces a chronic leukemia. The function fulfilled by X is necessary but not sufficient for cell transformation. Analysis of bovine and ovine immune sera has shown that protective sera contain immunoglobulins reactive against epitopes F, G, and H of BLV envelope protein gp51; the same three epitopes evidently play a role in infectivity of the virus and in syncytia induction. A very specific, fast and economical ELISA test has been developed that permitted large-scale surveys of herds. As many as 80 sera can be pooled analyzed as a single assay, with detection of only one positive serum among them. BLV can be infectious to rabbits and induce lymphopenia; this observation may be important in light of the involvement of members of the BLV family in induction of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. BLV and human T-lymphocyte virus are related, and probably derive from a common ancestor. (78 Refs)

Keywords: Animal Antigens, Viral/ANALYSIS Base Sequence Cattle Cattle Diseases/DIAGNOSIS/*TRANSMISSION DNA, Viral/ANALYSIS *Genes, Viral HTLV-BLV Viruses/GENETICS Leukemia/DIAGNOSIS/TRANSMISSION/*VETERINARY Leukemia Virus, Bovine/ANALYSIS/*GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid Viral Core Proteins/ANALYSIS Viral Envelope Proteins/ANALYSIS MEETING PAPER

861030
M86A0334

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