VON MENSCHLICHEN NEUROBLASTOMAZELLEN ERREICHBARES VIRUS

摘要

The invention provides a virus of icosahedral structure having a diameter of about 72nm, double-stranded RNA in seven segments of molecular weights 4.0, 3.9, 2.3, 2.2, 1.6, 1.4 and 1.3 kb, which is capable of infecting human neural crest cells and other human ectodermal cells, causes N-mŸ yŸ cŸ amplification in infected cells and is obtainable from human neuroblastoma cells. The invention further provides the RNA of the virus and DNA corresponding thereto as well as fragments thereof and cell lines transfected with the virus. Antigens of use in vaccines may comprise attenuated or inactivated forms of the virus. The invention also extends to antibodies against the virus and diagnostic kits for virus assay comprising such antibodies or the viral antigen.