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Comparative characteristics of three cytomegaloviruses from rodents
Abstract:
One cytomegalovirus isolate from the vole (Microtus arvalis) and 2 cutomegalovirus strains from mice (Apodemus sylvatious and Mus musculus) were compared. The rates of inactivation of these 3 viruses were virtually identical after each of 3 treatments: Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, ultrasonic vibration, and exposure to trypsin and chymotrypsin. The replication of the 3 viruses was similar in each of 3 types of mouse embryo fibroblast cells tested. A number of other characteristics of the vole isolate were the same as those of the mouse strains, including buoyant density (1.20 g/cu cm), enhanced plaquing efficiency in diethylaminoethyl-dextran, and induction of an abortive replication cycle in human cells. The 3 viruses were indistinguishable with regard to their antigenic characteristics, and electron microscopic examination revealed that the nucleocapsids and enveloped virions of the 3 viruses were indistinguishable.
Insights
This study found that vole cytomegalovirus (CMV) is antigenically and structurally indistinguishable from mouse CMV strains. These findings suggest a close relationship between CMV in these rodent species.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Comparative genomics
Background:
- Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are species-specific herpesviruses.
- Rodent CMVs are important models for studying human CMV (HCMV).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare a vole CMV isolate with two mouse CMV strains.
- To determine the genetic and antigenic relatedness of these rodent CMVs.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of viral inactivation rates under various treatments.
- Assessment of viral replication in different mouse embryo fibroblast cell lines.
- Characterization of physical and biological properties, including buoyant density and plaque enhancement.
- Immunological comparison using antigenic profiling.
- Ultrastructural analysis via electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Inactivation rates, replication patterns, and buoyant densities were identical across all three viruses.
- Vole CMV exhibited enhanced plaquing efficiency and induced abortive replication in human cells, similar to mouse strains.
- Antigenic characteristics and electron microscopic findings (nucleocapsids, virions) were indistinguishable among the isolates.
Conclusions:
- The vole CMV isolate is biologically, antigenically, and structurally indistinguishable from the studied mouse CMV strains.
- These findings suggest a close evolutionary relationship and potential interspecies transmission or shared ancestry between vole and mouse CMVs.