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Biomedical subjects

V Moennig

Publications and source records attributed to V Moennig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The hog cholera virus.

Hog cholera virus (HCV) is a spherical enveloped particle of about 40-60 nm dia. The viral genome is a single strand RNA of about 12,000 bases with positive polarity. One single large open reading frame codes for presumably four structural, i.e. three glycoproteins and a core protein, and about three to five nonstructural proteins. The functional role is not yet fully clear for all viral proteins. HCV belongs to the pestivirus group and it is closely related to bovine viral diarrhoea and border disease viruses. The relationship extends to morphology, antigenicity, host spectrum and molecular properties. Pestiviruses hold generic status in the family Flaviviridae.

Animals

Infection of ovine fetal brain cell cultures with cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus.

The in vitro cell tropism of non-cytopathogenic (ncp) and cytopathogenic (cp) bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was studied in primary dissociated brain cell cultures derived from ovine fetuses of different gestational ages. The cell types infected were identified by double immunofluorescence using antibodies against BVDV and cell type-specific markers. In cultures infected with ncp BVDV viral antigen was present in neurofilament (NF 200 kDa)-positive neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes and fibronectin-expressing cells. Estimation of the percentages of individual cell types infected with ncp BVDV indicated a tropism for NF 200-positive neurons. In cultures infected with cp BVD virus cytopathic changes were observed beginning at 40 hours post infection. Viral antigen was present in vacuolated NF 200-, GFAP- and fibronectin-positive cells. In comparison with non-infected control cultures a considerable reduction of the number of the different cell types was seen.

Animals

Heterogeneous expression of the non-structural protein p80/p125 in cells infected with different pestiviruses.

In order to analyse the expression of the non-structural (ns) protein p80/p125 in cells infected with different pestiviruses at the protein level, radioimmunoprecipitations with the pestivirus-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) BVD/C16 were performed. Cell lysates infected with cytopathic (cp) and non-cytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus strains and isolates, and with hog cholera (HC) virus strains were analysed. From cpBVD virus-infected cells, the MAb precipitated one or more proteins corresponding to ns p125, displaying a marked size heterogeneity. In contrast, the lower Mr ns p80 proteins from all cpBVD virus strains and isolates analysed had identical electrophoretic motility. The ncpBVD virus strains displayed either one single band or a doublet of the p125 protein and no p80 cleavage products. The p125 proteins precipitated from HC virus-infected cells showed no size heterogeneity. The possibility is discussed that multiple recombination events, including both insertions or deletions in the genomes of ncpBVD viruses, may lead to the heterogeneous expression of the ns p125 in cpBVD virus populations.

Animals

An antigen capture test for the detection of cattle viremic with bovine viral diarrhoea virus--a comparison with BVD virus isolation from buffy coat cells in bovine kidney cells.

An antigen capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) viral antigen in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cattle was used for the screening of 241 animals. The test used a monoclonal antibody directed against a conserved antigenic domain of a nonstructural protein (p125/p80) of pestiviruses for antigen capture. Bound antigen was detected with a pestivirus-specific polyclonal peroxidase conjugate. In parallel the samples were analysed by routine virus isolation procedures based on cell culture. Virus isolation and antigen capture EIA were positive in 54 cases. The latter test scored one additional sample.

Animals

Distribution of bovine virus diarrhoea viral antigens in the central nervous system of cattle with various congenital manifestations.

Distribution of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antigens in the central nervous system (CNS) of 26 cattle persistently BVDV infected, 11 cattle with mucosal disease (MD), and 32 calves with congenital brain malformations was studied using monoclonal antibodies against BVDV epitopes. In persistently infected cattle and in cattle with MD, a widespread infection of neurons was present. Predilection sites for BVDV antigens were the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. In calves with congenital encephalopathies, viral antigen-containing neurons could only be detected in the CNS of four animals. From the topographical distribution of BVDV antigens in these four postnatal cases with end-stage lesions, no conclusions could be drawn concerning the pathogenesis of BVDV-induced encephalopathies.

Animals

[Persistent BVD virus infections in a cattle breeding facility--a case report].

Comprehensive serological and virological monitoring for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus was applied in a dairy herd. Out of 83 calves 26 persistently infected animals were identified. Four viremic calves showed clinical signs of disease, the others displayed no symptoms. Viral isolates from persistently infected animals were homogenous with respect to their antigenicity. The results of virological and serological investigations allowed an almost complete reconstruction of events following the introduction of BVD virus into the herd. This case illustrates the potentially dangerous and damaging effects of unidentified virus carriers in cattle herds. Strategies for the identification of virus-shedding animals and the limitation of economical losses are discussed.

Animals

Further investigations on the porcine lymphoma C-type particle (PLCP) and the possible biological significance of the virus in pigs.

The possible biological significance of the procine lymphoma C-type particle (PLCP) was investigated serologically. The screening of 1 200 field sera of apparently normal breeder pigs, performed with an immunodiffusion test, revealed negative results. The same results were obtained with sera from a herd with hereditary lymphosarcoma and with sera from experimentally infected piglets. In cases of doubtful precipitation lines additional tests with a more sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay were performed. In no case a specific cytoplasmic fluorescence could be observed. The same sera of the 1 200 pigs were tested with BLV antigen as well as 350 bovine sera from BLV-positive cattle were tested with PLCP antigen. A possible antigenic relationship between BLV and PLCP could not be detected by the assays mentioned above. Purified PLCP was compared in SDS-PAGE with MuLV, FeLV, and BLV. The electrophoretical pattern presents suggestive evidence for a typical oncornavirus polypeptide composition. Apart from the presumable major internal protein with a molecular weight of 28 000 d, three low molecular weight proteins appeared at 12 000 d, 11 000 d, and 10 000 d. High molecular weight proteins could not be detected yet. The antigenic specificity of these bands has still to be confirmed.

Animals

Role of carbohydrate in determining the immunochemical properties of the major glycoprotein (gp71) of Friend murine leukemia virus.

Treatment of Friend leukemia virus gp71 with protease-free glycosidase enzymes results in removal of the major portion of the carbohydrate without affecting the amount of protein present. The digested material migrates as protein of about 60,000 to 65,000 molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analyses of the serological properties of gp71 after enzyme treatment indicated that the type, group, and interspecies determinants were not destroyed. In contrast, treatment with proteolytic enzymes led to the complete destruction of the gp71 molecule, including the total elimination of its serological reactivity as measured by direct and competition radioimmunoassay and by a serum cytotoxicity assay. We conclude that the carbohydrate portion of gp71 is not of major significance in defining the antigenic determinants of this viral glycoprotein.

Carbohydrates