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Discrimination of mumps virus small hydrophobic gene deletion effects from gene translation effects on virus

Tahir Malik1, Candie Wolbert Shegogue, Kellie Werner

  • 1DVP/Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. tahir.malik@fda.hhs.gov

Journal of Virology
|April 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The mumps virus (MuV) small hydrophobic (SH) protein is not a neurovirulence factor. Gene deletion, not protein absence, caused neuroattenuation, emphasizing distinct effects in viral studies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The small hydrophobic (SH) protein of paramyxoviruses is implicated as a virulence factor.
  • Understanding the specific role of the mumps virus (MuV) SH protein in virulence is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the MuV SH protein in neurovirulence.
  • To differentiate between the effects of SH gene deletion and SH protein absence.

Main Methods:

  • Introduction of multiple stop codons into the MuV SH open reading frame (ORF) in a molecular clone (r88-1961(SHstop)).
  • Preservation of genome structure while preventing SH protein production.
  • Comparison of neurovirulence between wild-type, SH(stop), and SH gene-deleted viruses.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in neurovirulence was observed between wild-type and SH(stop) MuV.
  • Significant neuroattenuation was observed upon deletion of the SH gene.
  • These findings distinguish protein-specific effects from gene deletion effects.

Conclusions:

  • The MuV SH protein is not a neurovirulence factor.
  • Gene deletion effects must be differentiated from protein-specific effects in viral pathogenesis studies.

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