Demonstration of the human herpesvirus 6-induced DNA polymerase and DNase.

Infection of HSB-2 cells with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) results in an approximately 51-fold increase in the level of DNA polymerase activity and a 4.44-fold increase in the level of DNase activity when compared to mock-infected cells. There was no increase in thymidine kinase, uracil-DNA glycosylase, or deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase activities in the infected cells. The HHV6-induced DNase and DNA polymerase activities could be distinguished from their normal cellular counterparts on the basis of immunological specificities and in the case of DNA polymerase based upon differences in electrophoretic migration. Serological studies also demonstrated reactivity of the antisera not only for HHV6 but also for Epstein-Barr virus.