Related Experiment Videos
The TO strains of Theiler's viruses cause "slow virus-like" infections in mice
Annals of Neurology
|July 1, 1979
Abstract:
Intracerebral inoculation of mice with tissue culture-adapted TO strains of Theiler's mouse encephalomyelitis viruses results in a clinical disease consisting of spastic paralysis due to demyelination after a lengthy incubation period. Thus, in effect, these ordinary picornaviruses are capable of causing a slow infection in their natural host, the mouse. In addition, through the use of tissue culture-adapted virus stocks, virus content in mouse tissues now can be accurately quantified by standard plaque assay.
Insights
Theiler
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Demyelinating diseases
Background:
- Theiler's mouse encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes spastic paralysis in mice.
- TMEV is a picornavirus that can induce demyelination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of TMEV to cause slow infections.
- To quantify TMEV in mouse tissues using plaque assays.
Main Methods:
- Intracerebral inoculation of mice with TMEV.
- Observation of clinical signs and incubation periods.
- Quantification of virus in tissues via plaque assay.
Main Results:
- TMEV infection resulted in spastic paralysis after a prolonged incubation period.
- Demyelination was observed as the cause of paralysis.
- Tissue culture-adapted virus stocks allowed accurate viral quantification.
Conclusions:
- Theiler's mouse encephalomyelitis virus can cause slow, demyelinating infections in mice.
- Plaque assays with adapted virus stocks enable precise viral load determination in infected tissues.