Densitometric analysis and immunogenic characterization of virion polypeptides of purified Buffalopox virus (BP-4 strain)

Buffalo pox frequently occurs in buffalo tracts of India and other countries. It is zoonotic disease responsible for considerable economic losses. Very few reports are available on virion polypeptides characterization of the virus. In the present study BP-4 strain of Buffalopox virus (BPV) was propagated and bulk cultivated in vero cell culture system. The virus was purified by linear potassium tartrate density gradient centrifugation and virion polypeptides (Vps) were resolved on 10% polyacrylamide gel using SDS-PAGE. The resolved bands were electro blotted to nitro-cellulose membrane and western blot analysis was performed. The observations in the present studies were in good accordance with those of other workers who suggested that the SDS-PAGE of structural proteins could be used for differentiation of pox viruses. It was observed that high resolution densitometery and documentation is comparatively a more versatile and precise way of virion polypeptide analysis and may be used for more effective analysis of virion polypeptide based identification of viruses, specially those of field isolates.