RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Harland, June A1 Brown, S. MoiraYR 1989 T1 A Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Variant in which a Deletion across the L-S Junction Is Replaced by Single or Multiple Reiterations of Extraneous DNA JF Journal of General Virology, VO 70 IS 8 SP 2121 OP 2137 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-70-8-2121 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB SUMMARY We have isolated and characterized a novel variant of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain HG52 which has a deletion of 13·5 kb across the L–S junction of the genome, resulting in all of the IRL region, half of the IRS region and the intervening L-S junction ‘a’ sequence(s) being removed. The deleted DNA has been replaced by single or multiple (up to 14) reiterations of a DNA sequence approximately 1 kb in length. Individual genomes within the population range in size from approximately 12 kb smaller than unit length to unit length or marginally larger. The L component of the genome is fixed in the prototype orientation while the S component inverts inefficiently. The variant is viable in tissue culture, is not temperature-sensitive, demonstrates impaired single-cycle growth characteristics and, apart from altered mobility of a single species (29.5K), its polypeptide profile in infected cells appears normal. Southern blot analysis has failed to identify the inserted sequences as being derived from HSV-2., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-70-8-2121