ANALYSIS OF THE NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF 48 KBP OF THE VARIOLA MAJOR VIRUS-STRAIN INDIA-1967 LOCATED ON THE RIGHT TERMINUS OF THE CONSERVATIVE GENOME REGION

Computer analysis of a variola major virus (VAR) genomic fragment boun ded by the open reading frames (ORFs) D1R and A33L, which is 47,961 bp long, revealed 46 potential ORFs. The VAR proteins were compared to t he analogous proteins of vaccinia virus strain Copenhagen. The subunit s of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, as well as the transcription factor s, mRNA-capping enzymes, and proteins necessary for the virion morphog enesis proved to be highly conservative within orthopoxviruses. The mo st pronounced differences between the VAR genome fragment under study and the corresponding vaccinia virus fragment were revealed in the vic inity of the gene encoding the A-type inclusion bodies protein. Possib le functions of the analysed viral proteins are discussed.