European isolates of bovine herpesvirus 1: a comparison of restriction endonuclease sites, polypeptides, and reactivity with monoclonal antibodies.

Eleven European isolates of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), together with two reference virus strains were compared by restriction endonuclease digestion, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and by their reactivity with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (McAb's). Based on the cleavage pattern of viral DNA with the restriction endonuclease Hind III the strains could be assigned to one of two established major virus types. Analysis by SDS-PAGE of viral polypeptides revealed that four protein species either displayed virus type or subtype specific minor variation of migration characteristics. Of 43 McAb's tested all reacted with all type 1 strains, whereas five antibodies failed to recognize some of the type 2 viruses. The existence of type specific variations among virus specified proteins was further evidenced by the recovery of one McAb recognizing type 1 viruses only. The data show that BHV-1 isolates can be assigned to established virus types according to the SDS-PAGE profile of viral proteins or the selective reactivity with type specific McAb's.