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High-level expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural proteins by a chimeric HCV/BVDV genome propagated as a
1Hepatitis Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0740, USA.
Abstract:
A chimeric cDNA genome was constructed in which the core, E1 and E2 genes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replaced the core, E(rns), E1 and E2 genes of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). High levels of HCV structural proteins were expressed in a small number of human or bovine cells following transfection with chimeric RNA. However, in one cell line, bovine embryonic trachea cells [EBTr(A)], the number of cells expressing HCV proteins increased to greater than 70% following serial passage of culture medium. These cells were persistently infected with a non-cytopathogenic BVDV helper virus. In these cells, the chimeric genome was packaged into infectious particles that accumulated in the culture medium at a titer as high as 10(7)-10(9) genome equivalents per ml. The virus particles were pseudotypes, because they were neutralized by anti-BVDV but not by anti-HCV.