The Physico-chemical Characterization of Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus as a Member of the Family Rhabdoviridae

Abstract

This study of the physico-chemical properties of bovine ephemeral fever virus was initiated to establish whether or not it should be classified as a rhabdovirus. In contrast to the regular bullet-shaped morphology of some rhabdoviruses the virus particles are often cone-shaped or slight variants from bullet-shaped. The virion contains single-stranded RNA sedimenting at 42S and six proteins with mol. wt. of 164, 101, 64, 53, 43 and 29 × 10³. The protein P101 is located on the surface of the virus and is glycosylated. It is removed by treatment of the virus particles with trypsin. Protein P64, the nucleoprotein, was found to be a phosphoprotein, like the N protein of rabies virus, whereas in vesicular stomatitis virus NS is the phosphorylated protein.