Genetic analysis of a cytomegalovirus-like agent isolated from human brain

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Abstract
An unusual cytomegalovirus (CMV, strain Colburn) isolated from brain biopsy of a boy with clinical encephalopathy was studied for genetic relatedness to human and simian CMV. Cross-examination of the purified viral DNA by DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics analyses showed more than 90% homology between Colburn virus and simian CMV (strain GR2757) and a lack of detectable homology between Colburn virus and human CMV (strains AD-169 and TW-87). Restriction endonuclease [HindIII and EcoRI] analysis of Colburn DNA showed some similarity of the DNA fragment pattern with that of simian CMV DNA, although the DNA fragment patterns were not identical, and showed no similarity to that of human CMV DNA. The molecular size and density of viral DNA were close to those of simian CMV DNA. The antigenic study, as performed by complement fixation and neutralization tests, showed strong cross-reactivity of Colburn virus to simian GR2757 virus. One-way cross-reaction of Colburn virus to several human CMV isolates (AD-169, Davis and Town) was detected by complement fixation; this 1 way cross-reaction was not obvious in a plaque neutralization test. Colburn is apparently a simian CMV-related virus.