Specificity of Antibody to the RD-114 Viral Polymerase

Abstract

THE use of antiserum against the RNA dependent DNA polymerase (RDP) of type C viruses has permitted the distinction of these enzymes from cellular enzymes which are capable of utilizing RNA templates for DNA syntheses^1–3. Such sera have also permitted some degree of subclassification of the viruses themselves and also distinction between other RDP-containing viruses^3–6. Thus, within the type C family, Viper, chicken and mammalian viruses are readily distinguished^3,4, whereas, within the mammalian group, the polymerases of two new primate isolates, woolly monkey^7,8 and gibbon ape⁹ appear distinct from the viruses of lower mammals^5,6. The newly described RD-114 virus¹⁰, which is currently under consideration as a human candidate virus, was also distinguished from the viruses of lower mammals by polymerase inhibition tests⁵. The major internal protein of the RD-114 virus is distinct from all other type C viruses both antigenically^10,11, and by virtue of a unique isoelectric point¹¹. In the absence of other criteria for species classification, it was suggested that polymerase inhibition tests might provide evidence for a primate virus group⁵ which would hopefully include RD-114. If so, this would provide strong circumstantial evidence for the human origin of RD-114. This report will summarize experiments with a hyperimmune guinea-pig antiserum prepared against purified RD-114 RDP.