A New Reovirus Isolate: Biological Characteristics and sequencing of the S4 gene
Abstract: The biological Characteristics and partial S4 gene sequence of a new Reovirus isolate was determined. Cell sensitivity testing on four cell lines was conducted by using the new isolate and the data showed that L929 cells and LLC-MK2 cells were highly permissive. The reovirus was resistant to ether, non-resistant to acid and heat in the physicochemical characteristics. It also had hemagglutination activity to human O-erythrocyte, and the titer reached up 1:32. Electron microscopic (EM) examination of LLC-MK2 cells infected with the reovirus revealed characteristic reovirus particles of about 70nm~80nm in diameter. Aggregates of reovirus particles showed in the cytoplasm of L929 cells. The putative S4 gene was amplified by PCR and the product had sequence homology to 3 prototypic strains T1L, T2J and T3D was 84%, 78%, 85%, respectively. All the results suggested that the new reovirus isolate is closely related to the known clusters of Reoviridae.