Characterization of the DNA of a defective human parvovirus isolated from a genital site.

An apparently helper-dependent parvovirus was isolated from a penile flat condylomatous lesion by inoculating the material into a culture of human fibroblasts, and by coinfecting these cells with adenovirus type 12. Upon addition of an adenovirus helper, the virus could be readily propagated in human KB cells. Analysis of its DNA revealed that it shares structural similarities with the DNA of the four defective parvoviruses (adeno-associated viruses, AAV) described so far, but that the cleavage pattern obtained after digesting the DNA with restriction enzymes is different from that of AAV 1-AAV 4. Nucleic acid hybridization data further support the assumption that the isolated defective parvovirus is not identical with the other four serotypes. When conditions of high stringency were used, only weak cross-reactivity was seen with the DNAs of AAV 1-AAV 4, whereas the latter showed strong cross-hybridization with each other. The organization of the DNA of the newly isolated parvovirus was investigated by mapping the cleavage sites of several restriction enzymes. It is proposed to designate the new isolate as AAV 5.