Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice and Evaluation of the Disease-dependent Distribution of Immune Cells in Various Tissues
Published on: May 8, 2016
The morphogenesis of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus is strain specific
1Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
During a single cycle infection with the neurovirulent GDVII- and demyelinating DA-strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) in L-929 cells, different subviral particles were found for both strains. Early in the assembly process, the DA-strain generated 14 S pentamers composed of the viral proteins VP0, VP1 and VP3, while in GDVII-infected cells, particles with the same protein composition but with a sedimentation coefficient of 20 S were found. These newly discovered 20 S particles are probably virion assembly precursors considering their capsid protein composition and their early time of appearance in infected cells. Near the end of the assembly process, VP0, VP1 and VP3 containing 80 S empty capsids became apparent in GDVII-infected cells, while these particles could not be found in DA-infected cells. The significance of these empty capsids will be discussed. After virion assembly, 14 S particles were observed for both strains. These 14 S particles resulted from the degradation of the 160 S virions as indicated by their protein composition (VP1, VP2, VP3) and time of appearance. Our results demonstrate that the assembly of the GDVII-strain differs from that of the DA-strain. In addition, the strain-specific assembly of TMEV implies that not all picornaviruses assemble as proposed by the poliovirus morphogenesis model and thus rendering its general validity questionable.
Insights
Theiler
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes central nervous system infections.
- Understanding TMEV assembly is crucial for developing antiviral strategies.
- Existing models of picornavirus morphogenesis may not universally apply.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the subviral particle assembly processes of TMEV GDVII and DA strains.
- To identify strain-specific differences in TMEV replication intermediates.
- To evaluate the generalizability of the proposed poliovirus morphogenesis model.
Main Methods:
- Infection of L-929 cells with TMEV GDVII and DA strains.
- Analysis of subviral particles using sedimentation coefficient (Svedberg units) and protein composition analysis.
- Time-course analysis of viral assembly intermediates.
Main Results:
- DA-strain produced 14 S pentamers (VP0, VP1, VP3) early in assembly.
- GDVII-strain produced novel 20 S particles (VP0, VP1, VP3) as potential assembly precursors.
- GDVII-infected cells showed 80 S empty capsids (VP0, VP1, VP3) late in assembly, absent in DA-infected cells.
- Both strains produced 14 S particles (VP1, VP2, VP3) from virion degradation post-assembly.
Conclusions:
- TMEV GDVII and DA strains exhibit distinct viral assembly pathways.
- The identified 20 S particles represent novel TMEV assembly intermediates.
- Strain-specific TMEV assembly challenges the universal validity of the poliovirus morphogenesis model.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology