Molecular analyses of pGHV sequences.
(A) Alignment of pGHV gpB amino acid sequence with those of AHV (GenBank accession no. T03107, amino acids 466-661) and EBV (GenBank accession no. P03188, amino acids 467-660). Amino acid identity is represented by an asterisk. (B) PCR amplification of pGHV sequences of DNA derived from lymph node samples. Lane pairs 1 to 5 represent animals 13 271, 13 432, 13 433, 13 813, and 13 801, respectively. The first lane of each pair represents pretreatment samples and the second a sample taken during PTLD. The third lane for animal no. 13 801 is a PBMC sample taken during PTLD. Lane 6 is a lymph node sample from animal no. 13 793 that was transplanted with the same donor cells at the same time as no. 13 801 but did not develop PTLD. A lymph node from this control animal was taken during the time of PTLD for animal no. 13 801. Lanes 7, 8, and 9 represent control amplifications of 2 × 103, 1 × 104, and 5 × 104 copies of PGHV gpB DNA, respectively. W represents water control amplifications. (C) Presence of pGHV sequences in DNA from lymph nodes during PTLD (P) and after resolution of PTLD (R). The tests indicate significantly elevated levels (4-5 log increase) of pGHV gpB sequences in all samples taken in animals exhibiting symptoms of PTLD.
