Abstract

Spherical virus particles were purified from larval striped jack (Pseudocaranx dentex) with nervous necrosis. The virus consists of nonenveloped particles, about 25 nm in diameter, and contains two single-stranded, positive-sense RNA molecules with molecular weights of 1.01 x 10(6)Da (RNA 1) and 0.49 x 10(6)Da (RNA 2), respectively. The RNAs do not have poly(A) sequences at the 3' terminus. Virus structural proteins consist of two proteins with molecular weights of 42 and 40 kDa. When translated into cell-free extracts of rabbit reticulocytes, RNA 1 directed the synthesis of the 1a protein (100 kDa), whereas RNA 2 synthesized the 2a protein (42 kDa), which is probably the coat protein of the virus, and a polypeptide of 40 kDa which appears to be the processed form of the 42-kDa protein. Under electron microscopic observation, the virus particles were found in the tissues of the central nervous system of the affected larval striped jack. From morphological and biochemical properties of the virus, we identified this virus as a new member of the family of Nodaviridae and designated it striped jack nervous necrosis virus.