Identifying the region influencing the cis-mode of maturation of West Nile (Sarafend) virus using chimeric infectious clones

Journal Article · Fri Aug 26 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.06.150· OSTI ID:20710940

Li, J ^[1]; Bhuvanakantham, R ^[1]; Howe, J ^[1]; Ng, M -L ^[1]

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1. Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, 5 Science Drive 2, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597 (Singapore)

West Nile (Sarafend) virus [WN(S)V] has been shown to egress by budding at the plasma membrane of infected cells. However, the region influencing this mode of virus release remains to be deciphered. In this study, we have constructed three chimeric clones in which specific regions of West Nile (Wengler) virus [WN(W)V] were replaced for the corresponding regions of WN(S)V in the full-length infectious clone of WN(S)V to define the region responsible for the cis-mode of WN(S)V maturation. The WN(W)V matures by the trans-mode. All of the resulting chimeric viruses were found to be infective. Transmission electron microscopy analyses performed in Vero cells infected with these chimeric viruses disclosed that the 5' end of the WN(S)V genome plays a major role in influencing the process of maturation at the plasma membrane.

• OSTI ID: 20710940
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 334; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
INFECTIVITY
MATURATION
MEMBRANES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VIRUSES