Studies were initiated to determine whether rhesus cytomegalovirus (Rh
CMV)-infected macaques could serve as an animal model for evaluating a
nti-CMV compounds, as macaques have a naturally occurring CMV that is
similar to human CMV (HCMV). Utilizing plaque reduction assays, RhCMV
was tested for anti-viral susceptibility. By these assays, RhCMV displ
ayed anti-viral susceptibility to ganciclovir al a 50% effective dose
(ED50) of 0.8 mu M, acyclovir at an ED50 of 15 mu M, and foscarnet at
an ED50 of 250 mu M. By Southern blot analysis with HCMV UL97 (phospho
transferase) and DNA polymerase (pol) genes as probes, we isolated vir
al DNA fragments that strongly hybridized. DNA sequence analysis of th
ese DNA fragments revealed two open reading frames with homology to HC
MV UL97 and DNA polymerase. Steady-state RNA analysis revealed that th
e RhCMV UL97 homologue and pol genes are transcribed as early late and
early genes, respectively. Comparison against HCMV showed the RhCMV U
L97 homologue exhibits 54.4% amino acid (aa) sequence identity to HCMV
UL97 and the RhCMV DNA polymerase 59.2% aa sequence identity to HCMV
DNA polymerase. Results from anti-viral assays and molecular character
ization of these two viral genes suggest that RhCMV-iniected rhesus ma
caques should serve as an excellent animal model for evaluating future
anti-CMV compounds. (C) 1998 Academic Press.