Fv-1 restriction of endogenous feline C-type RD114 virus genome phenotypically mixed with ecotropic murine leukemia viruses

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Endogenous feline leukemia virus RD114 can infect mouse cells through phenotypic mixing with ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV).
• The Fv-1 gene in mice restricts the replication of certain MuLV strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the Fv-1 restriction pattern and dose-response kinetics of feline leukemia virus RD114 genomes when phenotypically mixed with ecotropic MuLV in mouse cells.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic mixing of RD114 virus with ecotropic MuLV.
• Infection of mouse cells with the mixed virus.
• Titration of the mixed virus on mouse cells with known Fv-1 restriction phenotypes.
• Analysis of dose-response kinetics.

Main Results:

• The phenotypically mixed RD114/MuLV exhibited the Fv-1 restriction pattern of the ecotropic MuLV.
• Despite the Fv-1 restriction, the mixed RD114 genomes showed one-hit dose-response kinetics when titrated on restricted murine cells.

Conclusions:

• Phenotypic mixing can confer a specific host range and restriction pattern to a virus genome.
• One-hit dose-response kinetics suggest a single-hit mechanism for infection, irrespective of the Fv-1 restriction status in this specific mixed-virus system.