Date of Award

4-1998

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Karim Essani

Second Advisor

Dr. Robert C. Eisenberg

Third Advisor

Dr. Ronald C. Shebuski

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Swinepox virus (SPV) is the only known member of the genus Suispoxvirus. SPV causes a mild disease in swine characterized by slight fever, and weight loss, associated with lesions restricted to the skin. There have been few studies on SPV. Other poxviruses, such as vaccinia virus, have been well characterized and the biological activities of their secretory polypeptides have been analyzed. This study describes a major SPV secretory polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 35kDa. Poxvirus encoded polypeptides secreted during infection are known to exhibit immunomodulatory activities. The 35kDa SPV secretory polypeptide was tested.for its ability to inhibit hIFN-γ, hTNF-α, and hIL-1β activities. Results from these experiments were inconclusive for SPV polypeptide immunomodulatory activity on these human cytokines. Unavailability of swine cytokines restricted additional studies. Since myxoma virus secretory polypeptide, which is a serine proteinase inhibitor, is shown to reduce restenosis caused after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, SPV polypeptide was tested for similar activities. SPV secretory polypeptide did not reduce restenosis and lack of evident immunomodulatory function could explain only mild porcine pathogenesis of SPV.

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