Comparative studies on sindbis virus strains isolated in Slovakia

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Sindbis virus (SINV) is an arbovirus with various strains exhibiting different biological properties.
• Distinguishing between freshly isolated and prototype SINV strains is crucial for epidemiological studies and vaccine development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate two variants of Sindbis virus strains based on their plaque morphology and reactivity.
• To evaluate the utility of dextran sulfate (DS) treatment and sodium deoxycholate sensitivity as markers for SINV strain differentiation.

Main Methods:

• Sindbis virus strains were treated with dextran sulfate (DS) to observe plaque formation.
• Kinetic haemagglutination-inhibition tests were performed to assess viral reactivity.
• Sensitivity to sodium deoxycholate was tested for strain differentiation.

Main Results:

• Freshly isolated SINV strains from Cricetus cricetus and Rana ridibunda produced small plaques after DS treatment, unlike the prototype strain which produced both large and small plaques.
• Freshly isolated strains exhibited higher reactivity in kinetic haemagglutination-inhibition tests compared to the prototype strain.
• A freshly isolated strain demonstrated resistance to sodium deoxycholate, serving as a distinguishing characteristic.

Conclusions:

• Dextran sulfate treatment effectively differentiates SINV strains based on plaque size.
• Sensitivity to sodium deoxycholate is a reliable marker for distinguishing newly isolated SINV strains from the prototype.
• These methods provide valuable tools for the classification and characterization of Sindbis virus variants.