Genomic variation of herpes simplex virus type 2 isolates analysed by hybridization after electroblotting from polyacrylamide gels.

Genomic variation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strains was analysed by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis and subsequent hybridization to cloned HSV-2 sequences. Two probes were used, one from the L-segment and one from the S-segment of the HSV-2 genome. The probes did not contain a-repeat sequences. Hybridization to the specific sequences in individual DNA fragments obtained by use of the frequently cleaving restriction endonuclease Alu I revealed variations in the genome not detectable by analysing the fragment size only. The use of 35S-labelled deoxynucleotide in the radioactive labelling of the probe further improved the resolution of the method.