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Genetic determinants modulating the pathogenic phenotype of tick-borne orbiviruses
P A Nuttall1, S R Moss, D Carey
1N.E.R.C. Institute of Virology & Environmental Microbiology, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Virology
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Great Island (GI) virus segment 6 modulates Wexford (WEX) virus segment 4's neurovirulence, impacting orbivirus genetic determinants. This interaction affects viral pathogenesis and replication in mice.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Orbiviruses, part of the Kemerovo serogroup, possess 10 double-stranded RNA genomic segments.
- Previous research identified segment 4 as a key determinant of neurovirulence and segments 5 (Wexford virus) and 6 (Great Island virus) for serotype specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional roles of orbivirus genomic segments, specifically focusing on neurovirulence and serotype specificity.
- To elucidate the interactions between different genomic segments in determining viral phenotype.
Main Methods:
- Genetic reassortment studies involving dual infection of cell cultures with Wexford (WEX) virus and Great Island (GI) virus.
- Analysis of reassortant viruses with specific segment combinations (W4G6 and G4W5) in 2-day-old mice to assess neurovirulence and replication.
Main Results:
- The W4G6 gene combination (WEX segment 4, GI segment 6) produced nonpathogenic reassortants that replicated in mouse brains.
- The G4W5 gene combination (GI segment 4, WEX segment 5) resulted in typically neurovirulent reassortants.
- GI virus segment 6 demonstrated the ability to modulate the phenotypic expression of WEX virus segment 4, but not vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Orbivirus segment 6 plays a crucial role in modulating the neurovirulence determined by segment 4.
- The observed modulation likely results from interactions between the protein products of these genomic segments, potentially affecting virion structure.