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Journal of Virology, August 2004, p. 8085-8093, Vol. 78, No. 15
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.15.8085-8093.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Appearance of the Bona Fide Spiral Tubule of Orf Virus Is Dependent on an Intact 10-Kilodalton Viral Protein

D. Spehner,1* S. De Carlo,2 R. Drillien,1 F. Weiland,3 K. Mildner,3 D. Hanau,1 and H.-J. Rziha3*

INSERM E 0345, EFS-Alsace, 67065 Strasbourg, France,1 Centre de Microscopie Electronique de l'Université de Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland,2 Bundesforschungsanstalt für Viruskrankheiten der Tiere, Institut für Immunologie, 72076 Tübingen, Germany3

Received 19 December 2003/ Accepted 30 March 2004

Parapoxviruses can be morphologically distinguished from other poxviruses in conventional negative staining electron microscopy (EM) by their ovoid appearance and the spiral tubule surrounding the virion's surface. However, this technique may introduce artifacts. We have examined Orf virus (ORFV; the prototype species of the Parapoxvirus genus) by cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-negative staining EM. From these studies we suggest that the shape and unique spiral tubule are authentic features of the parapoxviruses. We also constructed an ORFV mutant deleted of a gene encoding a 10-kDa protein, which is an orthologue of the vaccinia virus (VACV) 14-kDa fusion protein, and investigated its ultrastructure. This mutant virus multiplied slowly in permissive cells and produced infectious but morphologically aberrant particles. Mutant virions lacked the spiral tubule but displayed short disorganized tubules similar to those observed on the surface of VACV. In addition, thin extensions or loop-like structures were appended to the ORFV mutant particles. We suggest that these appended structures arise from a failure of the mutant virus particles to properly seal and that the sealing activity is dependent on the 10-kDa protein.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address for Hanns-Joachim Rziha: Bundesforschungsanstalt für Viruskrankheiten der Tiere, Institut für Immunologie, Paul-Ehrlich Strasse 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Phone: 49 7071 967 253. Fax: 49 7071 967 303. E-mail: achim.rziha{at}tue.bfav.de. Mailing address for Danièle Spehner: INSERM EPI 99-08, EFS-Alsace, 10 rue Spielmann, 67065 Strasbourg, France. Phone: 33 3 88 21 25 25. Fax: 33 3 88 21 25 44. E-mail: daniele.spehner{at}efs-alsace.fr.

Journal of Virology, August 2004, p. 8085-8093, Vol. 78, No. 15
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.15.8085-8093.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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