# INCIDENCE & IDENTITY OF THE RA-1 PARVOVIRUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 1989 · $148,161

## Abstract

The B19 parvovirus causes at least three human diseases including
a non-destructive polyarthralgia in adults and in presently the
only recognized human pathogen of this virus group.  The RA-l
virus, first described in 1984 as a new parvovirus from an adult
patient with chronic, destructive rheumatoid arthritis (RA),
remains to be qualified as a virus indigenous to human that is
responsible for RA or any other human disorder.  The major goals
of this proposal are to:  (1) demonstrate the incidence and
expression of Ra-1 type viruses in different human population
groups, (2) establish the identity of the RA-1 virus at the
molecular and cellular levels as a possible unique member of the
Parvoviridae family, and (3) define the in vitro growth
requirements of these parvoviruses.  Blood sera from normal and
diseased individuals of various age groups will be screened for
RA-1 related antigens and antibody using sensitive tests such as
enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assays (ELISA) and Western protein
blots.  Synovial fluid and paired blood samples from patients with
early synovitis or diagnosed RA will be included in this survey.
Test for the presence of immune complexes that might ordinarily
mask detection of either parvovirus antigens of antibodies in these
specimens will be conducted.  Cloned viral DNA probes will be used
to detect RA-1 specific DNA or RNA in human blood and/or synovial
samples.  Ongoing DNA sequencing studies will be completed and
computer programs will be used to identify the structural
homologies of RA-1 and other parvoviruses.  Synthetic polypeptides
mimicking the putative viral structural proteins will be made and
tested for their  ability to elicit antibodies that confer
protective immunity in animals and which may be useful diagnostic
reagents.  Efforts to develop a fully permissive system for
propagation of the RA-1 virus will include use of human cells of
the lymphoid/myeloid lineage exposed to modulators such as
lymphokines, mitogens or prostaglandins.  Cells containing stable
inserts of potential helper virus genes will be tested for their
permissiveness.  This study should provide useful information about
the possible health significance, identify and basic properties of
the RA-1 parvovirus.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159094
- **Project number:** 5R01AR039038-02
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M1LVPE5GLSD9
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT W. SIMPSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $148,161
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-03-01 → 1991-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159094

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159094, INCIDENCE & IDENTITY OF THE RA-1 PARVOVIRUS (5R01AR039038-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159094. Licensed CC0.

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