Large double stranded DNA viruses were one of the first to be constructed into recombinant viruses. One of tese large double stranded DNA Iridoviridae, a genre of virus which infects invertebrates and cold blooded vertebrate, has yet to be used to construct recombinant viruses.
The researchers found and isoltaed a non-essential gene, the viral homologue of eukaryotic initiation factor eIf 2alpha, in Bohle iridovirus. A recombinant Bohle iridovirus was then created with the neomycin resistance gene and the Cane Toad adult globin gene. This was all inserted into the eIF 2alpha region mentioned earlier.
Adult globin expressed by the virus was detected on western blot which shows that the recombinant iridovirus can express the foreign genes. This shows evidence that stains of recombinant iridovirus could be used as a means of controlling Cane Toad populations.
Refernece: Pallister J. Goldie S. Coupar B. Shiell B.
Michalski W., 'Siddon N. Hyatt A. Bohle iridovirus as a vector for heterologous gene expression', Journal of Virological Methods vol. 146 (2007) pp. 419–423, viewed 7 September, 2009.
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Summarised by Luke Carpenter 41776791
