Study of a New Strain of Paramyxoviruses Isolated from Wild Ducks: Structural Polypeptides

Abstract

By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Duck/Mississippi/75 virus contained 5 different types of polypeptides of MW ranging from 76 .times. 103-43 .times. 103, 2 of which were glycosylated (MW 76 .times. 103 and 57 .times. 103). A comparison of this data with similar results obtained using Yucaipa and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) revealed a similarity with NDV, concerning the number, position and MW of the polypeptides. Hemagglutinating and neuraminidase properties are associated with surface glycoproteins which represent at least 40% of the virus protein. After KCl and Triton X-100 treatment and centrifugation on linear sucrose density gradients (10-25%, wt/wt) it was possible to isolate glycoprotein VPI of MW 76 .times. 103 with which hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities were associated.