IDENTIFICATION OF THE GENE ENCODING THE MAJOR CAPSID PROTEIN OF FISH LYMPHOCYSTIS DISEASE VIRUS

The gene encoding the major capsid protein (MCP) of fish lymphocystis disease virus (flounder isolate; FLCDV-f) has been identified by PCR using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to different regions of the MCP of Tipula iridescent virus (TIV), iridescent virus 22 (IV22) and Chilo iridescent virus (CIV). DNA fragments of 0.4 kbp, 0.5 kbp and 0.27 kbp in size were amplified using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to amino acids (aa) 146 to 153 (primer 1) and 274 to 268 (primer 6). or aa 146 to 153 (primer 1) and 313 to 304 i primer 8). or aa 304 to 3 12 (primer 7) and 385 to 381 (primer 9) of the MCP of TIV, respectively. The PCR products were used as hybridization probes for screening the gene library of FLCDV-f. The MCP gene of FLCDV-f (I 377 bp; 459 aa; 51.4K) was identified within the DNA sequence of the EcoRI FLCDV-f DNA fragment C (11-2 kbp; 0.61 1 to 0.71 8 map units). A high degree of aa sequence identity/similarity was detected between the MCP of FLCDV-f and TIV (50.3%/33.8%), IV22 (49.1%/34-2%). CIV (53%/29.5%) and African swine fever virus (16%/38.1%).