Molecular biology of bovine virus diarrhoea virus.

Abstract

Our understanding of the molecular biology of bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) has greatly increased over the past several years. The development of monoclonal antibodies (MAB's) has identified a key antigen of BVDV while at the same time providing evidence for considerable variation in this protein. MAB's, particularly those directed against the p80 protein, can be developed for use in diagnostic tests while others may be useful in molecular epidemiological studies of BVDV. The successful cloning of BVDV and hog cholera virus can provide nucleic acid probes for use in routine diagnostic testing, for use in pathogenesis studies and for the detection of BVDV contamination in biological materials. With the identification of the key antigens of BVDV and its molecular cloning, the future holds the promise of vectored vaccines which can provide the efficacy of modified-live vaccines with the safety of killed vaccines. However, much work still must be done to define the significance of the antigenic variation of BVDV as it relates to providing protection for the developing fetus.