EARLY AND LATE TRANSCRIPTIONAL PHASES IN THE REPLICATION OF LUMPY-SKIN-DISEASE VIRUS

Approximately 71 of the estimated 145 kilobase pairs of the genome of the South African isolate of lumpy-skin-disease virus, Neethling strai n, was cloned into the plasmid vector pBluescribe. Selected clones wer e used in Northern blot analysis to investigate the replication cycle of the virus. The synthesis of early mRNA was initiated immediately af ter infection, and continued for approximately 9 h. The transition to late-gene transcription occurred approximately 10 h post-infection and required DNA replication. Transcription of endogenous late genes cann ot occur when viral DNA replication is prevented, while it is activate d after DNA replication has occurred. The cloned fragments of the geno me are expected to help in the identification of important promoter el ements.