Publications

TitleAbstractYear
Filter
PMID
Filter
myxomatosis: the transmission of a highly virulent strain of myxoma virus by the european rabbit flea sphilopsyllus cuniculi (dale) in the mallee region of victoria.the european rabbit flea spilopsyllus cuniculi (daley was introduced into australia to act as a vector of myxoma virus. it was first released in the semi-arid mallee region of victoria in 1970 where epizootics cuased by field strains of myxoma virus occur each summer. introductions of the readily identified lausanne strain were made annually following the release of the flea. the introductions were successful and the strain persisted for up to 16 weeks despite competition from field strains. the ...1977270525
isolation and plaque purification of a syncytial forming component of myxoma virus.using the endpoint dilution and plaque purification technique performed on rabbit kidney cells, two stable syncytial clones of myxoma virus have been isolated. no eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies nor intranuclear granulations could be detected in cells infected with these clones. traditional plaques with the central area of detached cells surrounded by round cells also could not be recognized. however, when enough virus was added, one large complete syncytium developed in 24 on the ...19892582742
changes in the virulence of myxoma virus strains in britain.national surveys of the virulence of field strains of myxoma virus were carried out in 1975 (128 virus strains) and in 1981 (123 strains), using the virulence testing method employed in a similar survey in 1962. results showed that the virulence of field strains had increased between 1962 and 1975, and again between 1975 and 1981. the increases in virulence are thought to be a result of the development of resistance to myxomatosis in wild rabbit populations. the effects of the changes in virulen ...19873556434
[virus sensitivity of cells cultured from normal or pathologic rabbit tissue]. 19714323151
mechanism of perpetuation of animal viruses in nature. 19694392000
fluctuations in the titre of antibody to a soluble antigen of myxoma virus in field populations of rabbits, oryctolagus cuniculus (l.), in australia.results are presented on tests carried out over the past 5 years to measure the antibody titre of various rabbit populations to a soluble antigen of myxoma virus. in an unexpectedly high percentage of immune rabbits the antibody fell below measurable titres, and later rose to measurable titres without the advent of an observable epizootic of myxomatosis. the re-stimulation of the immune response is discussed in terms of re-infection and virus reactivation.19734518348
restriction by polycations of infection with myxoma virus in rabbits. 19724550228
evidence for the existence of latent myxoma virus in rabbits (oryctolaqus cuniculus(l.)). 19724557791
[role of the ergastoplasm in the morphogenetic cycle of a virus from a myxoamtosis strain]. 19724631977
[morphogenesis of the rabbit myxomatosis virus]. 19714945755
characteristics of cell culture systems. viral flora of rabbits. 19684976861
[study of attenuated strain of myxoma virus]. 19704992294
absence of serological evidence of myxoma virus infection in humans exposed during an outbreak of myxomatosis. 19664381646
leporine acquired immune deficiency disease.we have identified a recombinant leporipoxvirus that produces disseminated fibromas and a severe combined immune deficiency disease of sudden onset. the virus is recombinant between the sfv and the mv. mv was identified as a trace contaminant in stocks of sfv (patuxent strain). rabbits inoculated with the original uncloned stock of sfv prepared in vitro develop local tumors that subsequently regress. however, tumor extracts prepared from these animals, when injected into a second group of rabbit ...19863018882
characterization, molecular cloning, and physical mapping of the shope fibroma virus genome.five strains of shope fibroma virus (sfv), a strain of rabbit myxoma virus, and a strain of vaccinia virus were compared by restriction endonuclease digestion of their viral dnas. restriction digest patterns revealed that sfv and rabbit myxoma, both members of the leporipoxvirus genus, were distinct from vaccinia, an orthopoxvirus. all strains of sfv examined had a high degree of nucleotide sequence homology as shown by conservation of restriction sites within their genomes. however, restriction ...19852998033
possible windborne spread of myxomatosis to england in 1953.an analysis of the meterological conditions showed that the first outbreaks of myxomatosis in s.e. england in 1953 could have resulted from wind carriage of insects infected with myxoma virus from northern france. south-easterly winds on the night 11-12 august would have carried the insects 120-160 km from the départements of nord, pas de calais and somme across the english channel to near edenbridge, kent. the flight would have taken 6.5-8.5 h at wind speeds of 15-22 km h-1. on the night 11-12 ...19872881798
coevolution of hosts and parasites. 19826755367
in vitro and in vivo inhibition of myxoma virus by treatment with phosphonoacetic acid.both myxoma and fibroma viruses were found to be sensitive in vitro to the effects of phosphonoacetic acid. detectable myxoma virus replication was inhibited at a drug concentration of 100 micrograms/ml. fibroma virus replication was inhibited at a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml. because of this difference in sensitivity, myxoma virus was used to infect rabbits to test that efficacy of phosphonoacetic acid in the treatment of a systemic viral disease. rabbits were given 400 mg kg-1 day-1 of ...19817332492
the group selection of variola minor in the americas: an anthroponootic analogue for the myxomatosis epizootic in australia.it is an axiom of many parasitology texts that host-parasite systems coevolve toward a state approximating commensalism. while this hypothesis has an apriori intuitive appeal there is little empirical evidence to support it. the only documented case of a parasite evolving toward avirulence is the group selection of less virulent strains of the myxoma virus in the australian rabbit population. it is hypothesized here that group selection also accounted for the appearance of variola minor in the a ...19862423858
myxoma virus and malignant rabbit fibroma virus encode a serpin-like protein important for virus virulence.the leporipoxviruses shope fibroma virus (sfv), the myxoma virus (myx), and the sfv/myx recombinant malignant rabbit fibroma virus (mrv) are closely related yet induce profoundly different diseases in the european rabbit. sfv, which produces a benign tumor at the site of inoculation, is cleared by the immune system after approximately 2 weeks whereas myx and mrv induce a rapidly lethal systemic infection characterized by generalized suppression of host immune functions. dna sequencing studies re ...19902173255
molecular analysis of immunosuppression induced by virus replication in lymphocytes.the relationship between immunosuppression and oncogenesis can be determined by studying the molecular interactions between tumor-inducing viruses and lymphocytes. we approached this study by using a unique system of two genetically related leporipoxviruses, malignant fibroma virus (mv), and shope fibroma virus (sfv). mv induces a syndrome of a highly lethal, disseminated myxosarcoma, severe immune suppression, and replicates in lymphocytes both in vivo and in vitro. in contrast, sfv causes a be ...19902159037
a myxoma virus intergenic transient dominant selection vector.the purpose of this study was to construct an intergenic transfer vector which can be used for the generation of recombinant myxoma viruses (mvs) expressing a foreign gene insert. recombinant mvs expressing the escherichia coli lacz gene were constructed in vitro by transfection of mv-infected rabbit cells with a transfer expression vector, and isolated under growth conditions selecting for transient expression of the e. coli gpt gene. the effect of inserting foreign dna sequences between the vi ...19921469364
deletion of the growth factor gene related to egf and tgf alpha reduces virulence of malignant rabbit fibroma virus.the role of the epidermal growth factor homologue in malignant rabbit fibroma virus (mrv) pathogenicity was investigated by constructing a viral growth factor deletion mutant (mrv-gf-). since mrv is a recombinant virus with a myxoma virus background but possesses some terminal sequences derived from shope fibroma virus, the growth factor gene in mrv is in fact identical to shope fibroma growth factor (sfgf). although no significant differences were detected in the in vitro characteristics of mrv ...19921309274
myxomatosis: population dynamics of rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus linnaeus, 1758) and ecological effects in the united kingdom.in 1953-1955, myxomatosis spread among rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) in the united kingdom, causing 99% mortality. subsequently, there was a gradual increase in rabbit numbers. by 1955, the ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food (maff) had already found attenuated strains of myxoma virus. by 1970, genetic resistance had appeared. in the 1970s, mortality declined to 47-69% with only approximately 25% of rabbits infected, giving a field mortality of 12-19%. however, myxomatosis is persisten ...19921305856
the differential transmissibility of myxoma virus strains of differing virulence grades by the rabbit flea spilopsyllus cuniculi (dale).laboratory studies showed that few rabbit fleas (spilopsyllus cuniculi (dale)) transmitted myxomatosis after removal from wild rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus (l) that had been infected for fever than 10-12 days, irrespective of the virulence of the myxoma virus strain involved. rabbits infected with fully virulent (grade i) strains died within 10-15 days and few fleas from these hosts became infective; averaging all the samples takem. 12% of the fleas were infective. also, few fleas acquired inf ...19751058245
myxomatosis: the virulence of field strains of myxoma virus in a population of wild rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus l.) with high resistance to myxomatosis.the virulence of field strains of myxoma virus is increasing in the mallee region of victoria where the resistance of the rabbit to myxomatosis is high. this suggests that the climax association will be a moderately severe disease.19751056963
myxomatosis: passive immunity in the offspring of immune rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) infested with fleas (spilopsyllus cuniculi dale) and exposed to myxoma virus.kittens with maternal antibodies to myxoma virus, the offspring of rabbits which had recovered from myxomatosis, were exposed to fleas contaminated with myxoma virus and/or contact with infected rabbits from birth. all kittens died or became infected before 8 weeks of age. when compared with adult animals similarly infected the kittens showed no advantage in terms of survival time or recovery rate attributable to maternal antibodies. flea transmission of virus was found more effective than conta ...19751054058
myxomatosis: the occurrence of antibody to a soluble antigen of myxoma virus in wild rabbits, oryctolagus cuniculus (l.), in victoria, australia.the occurrence of antibody of myxoma virus in wild rabbits following epizootics is highest in the semi-arid north-west of victoria and lowest in temperate southern victoria. occurrence ranges up to about 90% in the north-west and to about 70% in the south except on the western plains where epizootics are rare and antibody occurrence seldom exceeds 30%. the establishment of the european rabbit flea may be changing the pattern of occurrence of antibody in the north-west by causing spring outbreaks ...1978701788
myxomatosis in the mallee region of victoria, australia.sharp reductions in the wild rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus (l.)) population in the mallee are associated with annual myxomatosis epizootics. the extent to which the population reductions are the direct result of the epizootics varies with time of epizootic occurrence. all grazing animals in the mallee are under nutritional stress each summer and autumn. when the epizootic occurs during the early summer heavy losses occur in a previously healthy population. similar losses which occur in the late ...1978701787
innate resistance to myxomatosis in wild rabbits in england.wild rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) from one study area in england have been used over a period of 11 years to investigate the possible appearance of innate resistance to myxomatosis. rabbits of 4-6 weeks old were captured alive, retained in the laboratory until at least 4 months old, and then infected with a type of myxoma virus which kills 90-95% of laboratory rabbits. observations were made of symptoms, mortality rate and survival times.in the first 4 years of the study (1966-9), mortality r ...1977270526
infective subviral particles from cell cultures infected with myxoma and fibroma viruses. 19676017401
some biological properties of a virus isolated from a hare tumour. 19685734620
myxomatosis: the introduction of the european rabbit flea spilopsyllus cuniculi (dale) into wild rabbit populations in australia.1. the european rabbit flea spilopsyllus cuniculi (dale) bred successfully in wild rabbits on three properties in new south wales and, within two breeding seasons, almost every rabbit shot within a quarter of a mile of a release site was infested.2. it was demonstrated that the flea transmitted myxoma virus in the field.3. in areas where more than 75% of the rabbits shot at the beginning of the breeding season were flea-infested and myxoma virus was present, populations failed to show the expect ...19715285938
myxomatosis. the effect of age upon survival of wild and domestic rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) with a degree of genetic resistance and unselected domestic rabbits infected with myxoma virus.the response of wild and domestic rabbits with a degree of genetic resistance to myxomatosis has been shown to be markedly affected by the age at which they were infected with a virulent strain of the virus. the response, in terms of mean survival time and percentage survival, fell with increasing age from 10 to 30 weeks with little change thereafter.19705267123
selection for resistance to myxomatosis in domestic rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus). 19695261215
ethical aspects and dilemmas of fertility control of unwanted wildlife: an animal welfarist's perspective.proposals to manipulate the fertility of wild, free-living animals extend the domination humans already exercise over domesticated animals. current lethal methods for population control include poisoning, trapping, hunting, dogging, shooting, explosives, fumigants, and deliberately introduced disease. animal welfare interests are based on individual animal suffering, but those interests are often overshadowed by labelling of groups of animals as pests, resource species, national emblem or endang ...19979109207
studies in the epidemiology of myxomatosis in california. iv. the susceptibility of six leporid species to californian myxoma virus and the relative infectivity of their tumors for mosquitoes. 19715166039
interstitial orchitis with impaired steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in the testes of rabbits infected with an attenuated strain of myxoma virus.the pathogenesis of infertility associated with acute viral orchitis was investigated in a rabbit model. infection of postpubertal male european rabbits with an attenuated strain of myxoma virus caused systemic disease with viral replication to high titres in the testes. infected rabbits developed an interstitial orchitis and epididymitis. this was associated with degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium, decreased serum testosterone concentrations and increased serum lh concentrations. virus ...19979227370
azapurine nucleosides. 2. synthesis and antiviral activity of 7-amino-3- -d-arabinofuranosyl-v-triazolo (4,5-d)pyrimidine and related nucleosides. 19725065785
isolation and characterization of a rabbit fibroma virus from a naturally occurring tumor. 19744809601
a myxoma virus epizootic in a brush rabbit population. 19724634525
[study of an attenuated strain of infectious myxoma virus obtained by passage in cell cultures (mackercher and saito, 1964)]. 19676055855
role of the myxoma virus soluble cc-chemokine inhibitor glycoprotein, m-t1, during myxoma virus pathogenesis.myxoma virus is a poxvirus that causes a virulent systemic disease called myxomatosis in european rabbits. like many poxviruses, myxoma virus encodes a variety of secreted proteins that subvert the antiviral activities of host cytokines. it was recently demonstrated that the myxoma virus m-t1 glycoprotein is a member of a large poxvirus family of secreted proteins that bind cc-chemokines and inhibit their chemoattractant activities in vitro. to determine the biological role of m-t1 in contributi ...199910191189
an immunological method to determine antigenic variation in three strains of myxoma virus.a technique is described for the purification of soluble antigens of three strains of myxoma virus. radioimmunoassays were used to study the antigenic differences between the three strains. results show that the soluble antigens isolated from lu and g.v. strains do not cross-react in rabbits tested, suggesting that rabbits infected with lu and g.v. strains of the myxoma virus can be readily distinguished. antigen isolated from the u.f.s. strain cross-reacted with sera from both lu- and g.v.-infe ...19826183284
the development of genetic resistance to myxomatosis in wild rabbits in britain.the presence of genetic resistance to myxomatosis in a sample of wild rabbits from one area in england was reported in 1977. rabbits from three other areas in great britain have been tested subsequently, and all cases showed similar resistance to a moderately virulent strain of myxoma virus. rabbits from one area also showed a significant degree of resistance to a fully virulent strain of virus. it is concluded that genetic resistance to myxomatosis is widespread in wild rabbit populations in br ...19846736637
virus-vectored immunocontraception for control of wild rabbits: identification of target antigens and construction of recombinant viruses.the need to control animal populations arises in many situations in the world from a variety of motives. present control strategies are almost universally based on lethal procedures. increasingly, there is dissatisfaction with such approaches from many different perspectives. in response to these concerns, the concept of controlling populations of pest species through control of their fertility has been mooted. successful examples of this approach exist in cases of small, discrete pest populatio ...19947569043
myxoma virus induces extensive cd4 downregulation and dissociation of p56lck in infected rabbit cd4+ t lymphocytes.myxoma virus is a pathogenic poxvirus that induces extensive dysregulation of cellular immunity in infected european rabbits. infection of a rabbit cd4+ t-cell line (rl-5) with myxoma virus results in dramatic reductions of cell surface levels of cd4 as monitored by flow cytometry. the virus-induced downregulation of cd4 requires early but not late viral gene expression and could not be inhibited by staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase c, which effectively blocks phorbol 12-myristate-13 ...19957636966
interruption of cytokine networks by poxviruses: lessons from myxoma virus.myxoma virus is an infectious poxvirus pathogen that induces a virulent systemic disease called myxomatosis in european rabbits. the disease is rapidly and uniformly fatal to susceptible rabbits and is characterized by generalized dysfunction of cellular immunity and multiple interruptions of the host cytokine network. a number of virus genes are classified as virulence factors because virus constructs bearing targeted gene disruptions induce attenuated disease symptoms. many of these genes enco ...19957759953
control of rabbit myxomatosis in poland.the authors present an epizootiological analysis of myxomatosis in poland. the biological, physical and chemical properties of virus strains used for the production and control of 'myxovac m' vaccine are discussed. the long-term stability, safety and efficacy of the vaccine are demonstrated. laboratory experiments were confirmed in large-scale field observations.19947949359
[myxomatosis in the sub-antarctic islands of kerguelen, without vectors, thirty years after its introduction].myxoma virus was introduced into the kerguelen archipelago in 1955-1956. thirty years after its introduction, the virus is present in most areas inhabited by rabbits. rabbit fleas and mosquitoes are absent from this group of islands and the disease is transmitted by contact. the timing of the beginning of new myxomatosis outbreaks, the absence of real epizootics as well as the higher percentage of infected males over females are specific observations in favour of this mode of transmission. the m ...19947994607
serp1, a serine proteinase inhibitor encoded by myxoma virus, is a secreted glycoprotein that interferes with inflammation.myxoma virus is a leporipoxvirus that causes a rapidly lethal, generalized infection known as myxomatosis in the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus). a characteristic feature of myxomatosis is the specific downregulation of key pathways important for numerous host defenses against the viral infection. the serp1 gene has significant sequence similarity to the serpin superfamily of serine proteinase inhibitors and is one of many virulence factor genes located within the terminal regions of the ...19938337817
australian pest control by virus causes concern. 19938342036
[preliminary studies of the effect of diseases and environmental pollution on the population dynamics of wild rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus linnaeus, 1758) in the federal state of north rhine-westphalia (germany)].a survey was conducted of wild rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) shot in all districts of the federal state of north rhine-westphalia (germany). a total of 104 rabbits were examined during 1988 and 1989. attempts to isolate myxoma virus and other viruses were unsuccessful. two serum samples neutralised myxoma virus. in 1990, 210 rabbits were examined; 57 animals were subjected to tests for the presence of the virus of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and 42 were tested for specific antibody. ...19938390874
myxoma virus m-t7, a secreted homolog of the interferon-gamma receptor, is a critical virulence factor for the development of myxomatosis in european rabbits.myxoma virus is a leporipoxvirus of new world rabbits (sylvilagus sp.) that induces a rapidly lethal infection known as myxomatosis in the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus). like all poxviruses, myxoma virus encodes a plethora of proteins to circumvent or inhibit a variety of host antiviral immune mechanisms. m-t7, the most abundantly secreted protein of myxoma virus-infected cells, was originally identified as an interferon-gamma receptor homolog (upton, mossman, and mcfadden, science 258 ...19968553583
expression of the myxoma virus tumor necrosis factor receptor homologue and m11l genes is required to prevent virus-induced apoptosis in infected rabbit t lymphocytes.myxoma virus is a leporipoxvirus that causes a highly lethal virulent disease known as myxomatosis in the european rabbit. an important aspect of myxoma virus pathogenesis is the ability of the virus to productively infect lymphocytes and spread to secondary sites via lymphatic channels. we investigated the infection of the cd4+ t lymphoma cell line rl-5 with myxoma virus and shope fibroma virus, a related but benign leporipoxvirus, and observed that myxoma virus, but not shope fibroma virus, wa ...19968615027
post-translational modification of the myxoma-virus anti-inflammatory serpin serp-1 by a virally encoded sialyltransferase.serp-1 is a secreted serpin (serine-proteinase inhibitor) encoded by myxoma virus, a poxvirus pathogen of rabbits. serp-1 is required for myxoma-virus virulence, and the purified protein has been shown to possess independent anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of restenosis and antigen-induced arthritis. as an inhibitor of serine proteinases, serp-1 acts against tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasmin, thrombin and factor xa. in the present study, ...200010749666
safety evaluation of a recombinant myxoma-rhdv virus inducing horizontal transmissible protection against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease.we have recently developed a transmissible vaccine to immunize rabbits against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease based on a recombinant myxoma virus (mv) expressing the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (rhdv) capsid protein [bárcena et al. horizontal transmissible protection against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorragic disease using a recombinant myxoma virus. j. virol. 2000;74:1114-23]. administration of the recombinant virus protects rabbits against lethal rhdv and mv challenges. furt ...200010930670
analysis of myxoma virus genome using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. 19968810005
mutational analysis of the ligand-binding domain of m-t2 protein, the tumor necrosis factor receptor homologue of myxoma virus.the myxoma virus-encoded m-t2 protein shares extensive sequence homology with the ligand-binding domains of the tnf receptors (tnfrs) and has been shown to bind and inhibit rabbit tnf-alpha with affinities similar to those of tnf-alpha with cellular receptors. here we show that m-t2 protein is secreted from infected cells as an n-linked glycoprotein, with both complex and hybrid or high mannose oligosaccharide chains. since amino acid homology between m-t2 and cellular tnf receptors is limited t ...19968906826
characterization and functional analysis of serp3: a novel myxoma virus-encoded serpin involved in virulence.myxoma virus (mv), a member of the family poxviridae, is the causative agent of myxomatosis, a fatal disease of the european rabbit. the mv genome is a linear, double-stranded dna molecule that encodes several factors important for evasion of the host immune system. sequencing the right-end region of the mv genome identified an 801 bp open reading frame (orf) encoding a polypeptide that belongs to the serpin superfamily. to date, two mv-encoded serpins have been characterized: serp-1 binds to se ...200111369885
progress towards using recombinant myxoma virus as a vector for fertility control in rabbits.the history of myxoma virus, its use in australia as a mortality agent and the development of the virus as a vector for controlling fertility in wild rabbit populations in australia is reviewed. myxoma virus recombinants have been constructed to express model antigens. four potential insertion sites in the genome have been identified and two have been used to construct single and double recombinant viruses expressing escherichia coli enzymes beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase. another rec ...19979109196
selection of antigens for use in a virus-vectored immunocontraceptive vaccine: ph-20 as a case study.the european wild rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus) has become the major agricultural and environmental pest species in australia. current methods of rabbit control are lethal procedures which are increasingly questioned for their overall efficiency, applicability, specificity, cost and humaneness. new initiatives are required. one such initiative is virus-vectored immunocontraception. in this approach, the lagomorph-specific myxoma virus will be genetically engineered to include genes encoding com ...19979109201
the purified myxoma virus gamma interferon receptor homolog m-t7 interacts with the heparin-binding domains of chemokines.the myxoma virus t7 protein m-t7 is a functional soluble gamma interferon receptor homolog that has previously been shown to bind gamma interferon and inhibit its antiviral activities in a species-specific manner, but gene knockout analysis has suggested a further role for m-t7 in blocking leukocyte influx into infected lesions. we purified m-t7 to apparent homogeneity and showed that m-t7 is an n-linked glycoprotein that appears to be a stable homotrimer with a molecular mass of approximately 1 ...19979151824
the myxoma virus m-t4 gene encodes a novel rdel-containing protein that is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum and is important for the productive infection of lymphocytes.to investigate the contribution of the myxoma virus m-t4 gene to viral virulence, both copies of the m-t4 gene were inactivated by disruption and insertion of the escherichia coli guanosine phosphoribosyltransferase gene. infection of european rabbits with the recombinant m-t4-deleted virus, vmyxlact4, resulted in disease attenuation. in contrast, infection of rabbits with vmyxlac elicited the classical features of lethal myxomatosis. a notable decrease in the number of secondary lesions in anim ...19979434727
myxoma virus in rabbits.myxoma virus in european rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the best documented examples of host-virus co-evolution. in the natural hosts (sylvilagus brasiliensis or s. bachmani rabbits in the americas), myxoma virus causes a benign cutaneous fibroma. in european rabbits, however, myxoma virus causes the fulminant disease, myxomatosis. when introduced into wild european rabbit populations in australia, europe and great britain, the virus was initially highly lethal, killing in excess of 9 ...19989638815
impact of viral hemorrhagic disease on a wild population of european rabbits in france.an outbreak of rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease (rvhd) and of myxomatosis occurred in a free-living population of rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) near paris (france) in 1995. annual mortality rates were 88% in adults and 99% in juveniles. there was no difference in mortality rates between males and females. since most adults were protected with myxoma antibodies after may, they probably died of rvhd. mortality lasted throughout the year despite high proportions of rabbits having developed myxoma ...19989706551
serp2, an inhibitor of the interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme, is critical in the pathobiology of myxoma virus.recently, myxoma virus was shown to encode an additional member of the serpin superfamily. the viral gene, called serp2, was cloned, and the serp2 protein was shown to specifically bind to interleukin-1beta (il-1beta)-converting enzyme (ice), thus inhibiting the cleavage of pro-il-1beta by the protease (f. petit, s. bertagnoli, j. gelfi, f. fassy, c. boucraut-baralon, and a. milon, j. virol. 70:5860-5866, 1996). here, we address the role of serp2 in the development of myxomatosis, a lethal infec ...19989733819
development of an elisa for detection of myxoma virus-specific rabbit antibodies: test evaluation for diagnostic applications on vaccinated and wild rabbit sera.an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) was developed and compared with 2 reference diagnostic tests (indirect immunofluorescence [if] and complement fixation) to detect myxoma virus-specific antibodies in sera from 50 rabbits experimentally vaccinated with an attenuated strain of myxoma virus or with a shope fibroma virus. the elisa was highly specific (100% specificity) and sensitive (100%, 21 days after homologous vaccination). in a comparison of the elisa with the if test in 128 wild ra ...199910353355
immunomodulation by viruses: the myxoma virus story.myxoma virus is a poxvirus pathogen of rabbits that has evolved to replicate successfully in the presence of an active immune response by an infected host. to accomplish this, the virus has developed a variety of strategies to avoid detection by or obstruct specific aspects of the antiviral response whose consolidated action is antagonistic to virus survival. we describe two distinct viral strategies carried out by viral proteins with which myxoma virus subverts the host immune response. the fir ...199910399068
monitoring the spread of myxoma virus in rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus populations on the southern tablelands of new south wales, australia. iii. release, persistence and rate of spread of an identifiable strain of myxoma virus.an identifiable strain of myxoma virus was introduced into four local populations of wild rabbits oryctolagus cuniculus on the southern tablelands of new south wales (nsw) and its spread in the presence of other field strains was monitored for 6 months. the main vector in this region was considered to be the european rabbit flea spilopsyllis cuniculi. each population of rabbits was of a high density and living in groups of warrens covering areas from 59 to 87 hectares. rabbits occupying centrall ...200312613755
myxoma virus serp2 is a weak inhibitor of granzyme b and interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme in vitro and unlike crma cannot block apoptosis in cowpox virus-infected cells.the serp2 protein encoded by the leporipoxvirus myxoma virus is essential for full virulence (f. messud-petit, j. gelfi, m. delverdier, m. f. amardeilh, r. py, g. sutter, and s. bertagnoli, j. virol. 72:7830-7839, 1998) and, like crma of cowpox virus (cpv), is reported to inhibit the interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ice, caspase-1) (f. petit, s. bertagnoli, j. gelfi, f. fassy, c. boucraut-baralon, and a. milon, j. virol. 70:5860-5866, 1996). serp2 and crma both contain asp at the p1 position ...199910400732
infertility in female rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) alloimmunized with the rabbit zona pellucida protein zpb either as a purified recombinant protein or expressed by recombinant myxoma virus.development of immunocontraceptives for wild rabbit populations requires selection of both effective antigens and effective delivery systems. recombinant rabbit zona pellucida glycoprotein b (zpb) produced in eukaryotic cells in vitro was an effective antigen and induced sustained infertility in 70% of female rabbits. this required two boosts and serum antibody titers of 12 800 or greater. antibody titers in females were low after the initial immunization, as might be expected with a self-antige ...199910456835
the leech as a potential virus reservoir.leeches, fed on swine infected with hog cholera, contained virus for as long as 87 days after their infective blood meals. in three instances, infected leeches apparently transmitted hog cholera virus to susceptible swine in the process of normal feeding. myxoma virus persisted in leeches for as long as 154 days after the ingestion of a blood meal from rabbits with myxomatosis. leeches fed consecutively, first on swine with hog cholera, and later on rabbits with myxomatosis, acquired both viruse ...195713416474
a comparison of the virulence for european rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) of strains of myxoma virus recovered in the field in australia, europe and america. 195713439170
experimental infection of specific pathogen-free new zealand white rabbits with five strains of amyxomatous myxoma virus.myxomatosis is a specific disease of the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus) due to a virus belonging to the genus leporipoxvirus. forty-seven years after its deliberate introduction into europe, the clinical aspects and the epizootiology of myxomatosis have changed. two forms (nodular and amyxomatous) of the disease have been identified to date. a comparative study was made of the clinical signs, pathogenesis and gross lesions observed in male specific pathogen-free new zealand white rabbit ...199910542126
shope fibroma and rabbit myxoma viruses. i. autoradiographic and cytoimmunological studies on "b" type inclusions. 196314147699
shope fibroma and rabbit myxoma viruses. ii. pathogenesis of fibromas in domestic rabbits. 196314147700
attenuation of the myxoma virus and use of the living attenuated virus as an immunizing agent for myxomatosis. 196414233132
role of the c-terminal rdel motif of the myxoma virus m-t4 protein in terms of apoptosis regulation and viral pathogenesis.the purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of the c-terminal rdel motif of the myxoma virus m-t4 protein in terms of apoptosis regulation and role in viral virulence. to accomplish this, a recombinant myxoma virus was created in which the c-terminal rdel motif of m-t4 was deleted and a selectable marker (ecogpt) was inserted immediately downstream. we hypothesized that removal of the rdel motif from m-t4 would alter the subcellular localization of the protein and provide insig ...199910544103
genetic and phylogenetic characterization of the type ii cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyases encoded by leporipoxviruses.shope fibroma virus and myxoma virus encode proteins predicted to be type ii photolyases. these are enzymes that catalyze light-dependent repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (cpds). when the shope fibroma virus s127l gene was expressed in an escherichia coli strain lacking functional cpd repair pathways, the expressed gene protected the bacteria from 70-75% of the ultraviolet (uv) light-induced cytotoxic dna damage. this proportion suggests that leporipoxvirus photolyases can only repair cpd ...200314592755
the complete dna sequence of myxoma virus.myxomatosis in european rabbits is a severely debilitating disease characterized by profound systemic cellular immunosuppression and a high rate of mortality. the causative agent, myxoma virus, is a member of the poxvirus family and prototype of the leporipoxvirus genus. as a major step toward defining the genetic strategies by which the virus circumvents host antiviral responses, the genomic dna sequence of myxoma virus, strain lausanne, was determined. a total of 171 open reading frames were a ...199910562494
disruption of m-t5, a novel myxoma virus gene member of poxvirus host range superfamily, results in dramatic attenuation of myxomatosis in infected european rabbits.myxoma virus is a pathogenic poxvirus that induces a lethal myxomatosis disease profile in european rabbits, which is characterized by fulminating lesions at the primary site of inoculation, rapid dissemination to secondary internal organs and peripheral external sites, and supervening gram-negative bacterial infection. here we describe the role of a novel myxoma virus protein encoded by the m-t5 open reading frame during pathogenesis. the myxoma virus m-t5 protein possesses no significant seque ...19968676463
myxoma virus as a vaccine vector for rabbits: antibody levels to influenza virus haemagglutinin presented by a recombinant myxoma virus.to determine whether myxoma virus (mv) could be used as a vector for antigen presentation to european rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus), despite its immunosuppressive properties, a recombinant mv expressing the influenza virus haemagglutinin (ha) was constructed. domestic rabbits, inoculated with the recombinant virus, developed high plasma antibody titres to the ha and igg to ha was also detected in vaginal secretions. antibody titres to ha obtained with recombinant mv were similar to titres obta ...19958719525
protection against myxomatosis and rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease with recombinant myxoma viruses expressing rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus capsid protein.two myxoma virus-rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (rhdv) recombinant viruses were constructed with the sg33 strain of myxoma virus to protect rabbits against myxomatosis and rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease. these recombinant viruses expressed the rhdv capsid protein (vp60). the recombinant protein, which is 60 kda in size, was antigenic, as revealed by its reaction in immunoprecipitation with antibodies raised against rhdv. both recombinant viruses induced high levels of rhdv- and myxoma virus- ...19968764013
cross-sectional study of the association between pathological conditions and myxoma-virus seroprevalence in intensive rabbit farms in europe.myxomatosis is a major viral disease of the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus). two forms of the disease (nodular and amyxomatous) exist. the clinical diagnosis of the nodular form is easily performed on the basis of typical skin lesions whereas that of amyxomatous forms must be based on virus isolation or detection of specific antibodies to myxoma virus (mv). the seroprevalence of mv was studied between march 1998 and february 1999 in 16 farms from three european countries considered free ...200111150634
genetic variation in australian isolates of myxoma virus: an evolutionary and epidemiological study.myxoma virus and the european rabbit have been coevolving in australia since the introduction of the standard laboratory strain (sls) of myxoma virus as a biological control agent for rabbits in 1950. to examine the degree of genetic variation that has occurred in the virus between 1950 and 1995 and to find genetic markers to use for epidemiological studies, we have examined 37 recent field isolates of myxoma virus for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (rflps) by comparision with the pro ...200111504419
myxoma virus leukemia-associated protein is responsible for major histocompatibility complex class i and fas-cd95 down-regulation and defines scrapins, a new group of surface cellular receptor abductor proteins.down-modulation of major histocompatibility class i (mhc-i) molecules is a viral strategy for survival in the host. myxoma virus, a member of the poxviridae family responsible for rabbit myxomatosis, can down-modulate the expression of mhc-i molecules, but the viral factor(s) has not been described. we cloned and characterized a gene coding for an endoplasmic reticulum (er)-resident protein containing an atypical zinc finger and two transmembrane domains, which we called myxoma virus leukemia-as ...200211861858
leporipoxvirus cu-zn superoxide dismutase homologs inhibit cellular superoxide dismutase, but are not essential for virus replication or virulence.vertebrate poxviruses encode homologs of cellular cupro-zinc superoxide dismutases (cu-zn sod). in this study we have examined the molecular genetic properties of two cu-zn sod homologs encoded by the shope fibroma virus (sfv) and myxoma virus. these leporipoxvirus proteins should be catalytically inactive as judged by the point mutations which alter a key catalytic arginine and restructure the predicted cu-binding domain. this prediction was confirmed using in situ gel assays and recombinant pr ...200212036324
the effect of single and concomitant pathogen infections on condition and fecundity of the wild rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus).we assessed the effect of two pathogens (myxoma virus and eimeria stiedae) and five macroparasites (gastrointestinal helminth species) of the wild rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus) upon total host body mass and abdominal fat level. additionally, we assessed the effects of these organisms on the number of foetuses in adult females during the peak breeding period. both mass of abdominal fat and total body mass of the rabbit were negatively associated with myxoma virus infection and increasing helmint ...200516051247
vaccination of cats with an attenuated recombinant myxoma virus expressing feline calicivirus capsid protein.myxoma virus, a member of the poxviridae family (genus leporipoxvirus) is the agent responsible for myxomatosis in the european rabbit. recombinant myxoma viruses expressing the capsid gene of an f9 strain of feline calicivirus (fcv) were constructed from an apathogenic, laboratory attenuated, isolate of myxoma virus. the fcv capsid genes were recombined into the myxoma growth factor (mgf) locus of the myxoma genome and expressed from synthetic poxvirus promoters. myxoma virus is unable to repli ...200212057600
immune responses to myxoma virus.myxoma virus causes the systemic disease myxomatosis in the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus). originating in the south american rabbit sylvilagus brasiliensis, where it causes a relatively localized fibroma, myxoma virus is a classic example of a virus that has jumped species to produce an exotic disease and then coevolved with its new host. like other poxviruses, myxoma virus encodes multiple proteins capable of downregulating the host innate and acquired immune responses. other virus-en ...200212081009
a pox on thee! manipulation of the host immune system by myxoma virus and implications for viral-host co-adaptation.the poxviruses have evolved a diverse array of proteins which serve to subvert innate and adaptive host responses that abort or at least limit viral infections. myxoma virus and its rabbit host are considered to represent an ideal poxvirus-host system in which to study the effects of these immunomodulatory proteins. studies of laboratory rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) infected with gene knockout variants of myxoma virus have provided compelling evidence that several myxoma virus gene products c ...200212297325
immune evasion by a novel family of viral phd/lap-finger proteins of gamma-2 herpesviruses and poxviruses.many viruses have developed mechanisms to escape the cellular immune response by inhibiting antigen presentation from major histocompatibility complex (mhc) molecules. most of these immune escape mechanisms are highly host adapted and specific to a given virus species or family. recent observations however, suggest that a conserved family of viral proteins is used by both gamma-2 herpesviruses and by poxviruses to downregulate mhc class i. in addition, other cell surface molecules involved in im ...200212297327
monitoring the spread of myxoma virus in rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus populations on the southern tablelands of new south wales, australia. i. natural occurrence of myxomatosis.a survey of rabbit populations in the southern tablelands of new south wales, australia, was carried out to establish the pattern of occurrence of myxomatosis in preparation for a deliberate release of myxoma virus. myxomatosis was first detected in december and cases were found on most sites through to may. the serological profiles of rabbit populations suggested that their susceptibility to myxoma virus was generally low in winter and highest in spring and summer reflecting the presence of inc ...200312613753
monitoring the spread of myxoma virus in rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus populations on the southern tablelands of new south wales, australia. ii. selection of a strain of virus for release.to be able to study the dynamics of myxoma virus spread following a release in the field, a strain of virus is required that is both highly transmissible and readily differentiated from other field strains. eight strains of virus of known virulence for laboratory rabbits and with previously mapped and sequenced restriction fragment length polymorphisms, were used to infect groups of seronegative wild rabbits. based on these trials, and on the nature of the dna polymorphism, a virus designated br ...200312613754
lessons in détente or know thy host: the immunomodulatory gene products of myxoma virus.the poxvirus, myxoma virus, encodes within its genome at least eleven different proteins that compromise, skew, or disable the innate and adaptive responses of its hosts. in the laboratory rabbit, oryctolagus cuniculus, these effects result in myxomatosis, a fatal condition characterized by skin lesions and systemic immunosuppression. interestingly, while myxoma infection also causes skin lesions in its natural host and in natural populations of o. cuniculus in australia where this novel host an ...200312734406
studies by electron microscopy of thin sections of infectious myxomatosis in rabbits.rabbits were inoculated with the c.p.m. strain of myxoma virus and the resulting subcutaneous tumors were fixed, embedded, and sectioned for observation with the electron microscope. both round cells and the typical stellate myxomatous cells were observed in addition to changes in the collagen pattern at the intercellular spaces. the cytoplasm of the cells showed a great number of bodies of varying size and density, the largest of them having the size and other characteristics of the elementary ...195212981219
tumor necrosis factor receptors encoded by poxviruses.poxviruses encode several cytokine response modifying (crm) proteins. the crm proteins possess sequence homology to several human proteins important in immunity. this homology and the conservation of crm proteins among poxvirus strains suggest an immunomodulatory function that provides a survival advantage to the virus. cowpox virus encodes several tumor necrosis factor (tnf) receptor family homologues: crmb, crmc, and crmd. crmb and crmd encode a similar approximately 155 amino acid cooh-termin ...199910444338
[experimental transmission and conservation of the myxomatous virus by culex pipiens berbericus roubaud]. 196314081592
viruses of the myxoma-fibroma subgroup of the poxviruses. i. plaque production in cultured cells, plaque-reduction tests, and cross-protection tests in rabbits. 196514323551
Displaying items 1 - 100 of 191