The genomes of simian varicella virus and varicella zoster virus are colinear.

Simian varicella virus (SVV) causes an exanthematous disease in non-human primates which is clinically similar to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection of humans. In this study, the genetic relatedness of SVV and VZV was confirmed and the location of SVV DNA sequences homologous to VZV restriction endonuclease (RE) fragments and viral genes was determined. VZV DNA RE fragments representing 98.3% of the VZV genome were 32P-labeled and hybridized to RE digested, immobilized SVV DNA. Homologous sequences were located throughout the viral DNAs in similar map positions, indicating a colinear relationship between the VZV and SVV genomes. 32P-labeled VZV glycoprotein (gp I, II, III, and IV) and gene 62 DNA probes also hybridized to SVV DNA in a colinear manner. The results suggest that the location of specific SVV genes may be predicted from the known map positions of homologous VZV genes. This study provides further support for SVV infection of non-human primates as a model for VZV infection of humans.