Characterization of a Virus Isolated from Artesian Well Water from Blackfoot Disease Area
碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生物化學研究所 === 82 === Blackfoot disease (BFD) is a kind of arteriosclerotic obliteration which attack mostly the peripheral vascular system among inhabitants of some villages at the southwestern coast area of Taiwan. Epidemiological studi...
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| Format: | Others |
| Language: | zh-TW |
| Published: |
1994
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| Online Access: | http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90717705061709396021 |
| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生物化學研究所 === 82 === Blackfoot disease (BFD) is a kind of arteriosclerotic
obliteration which attack mostly the peripheral vascular
system among inhabitants of some villages at the southwestern
coast area of Taiwan. Epidemiological studiesrevealed a
correlation between the BFD and the ingestion of localartesian
well-water. Previous studies also revealed that arsenic was one
possible incidence factor of the BFD. Since the vascular
system could be the primary target tissues, we used the
endothelial cells as a biological indicator to investigate the
possible agents existed in the artesian well-water. Cytotoxic
substances were purified from artesian well-water of Pu-Dai
area. Bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BECs) were used
as an indicator of cell cytotoxicity. Viruses were harvested
and purified from media of the BECs infected with cytotoxic
fraction isolated from artesian well-water. DNA sequencing and
southern hybridization were used to identify the viruses. When
the purified virus was transferred to cultured BECs, cytopathic
effects (CPEs) could be observed. The morphological study of
the virus by electron microscopy indicated that the diameter of
the virus particle is 120-150 nm. The size of virus DNA was
larger then 23 kb from agarose electrophoresis. The results of
DNA sequencing revealed three homologous sequences as BHV-4
(bovine herpesvirus type 4). In vitro study revealed that both
arsenic trioxide (As-lll) and arsenic acid (As-V) decreased
CPEs of infected BECs. Heparin also inhibited CPEs formation
of infected BECs. Further study of the virus could lead to
clearify the relationship of the virus and BHV-4 of known
strain. The relationship of BFD and virus infection is not
clear and further studies are required.
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