Related Experiment Videos
Characterization of virulent isolates of vesicular stomatitis virus in relation to interference by defective
Abstract:
To investigate the role that defective interfering (DI) particles might conceivably play in the epizootiology of vesicular stomatitis, two virulent New Jersey (NJ) isolates from the 1982-1983 epizootic in the United States (US) were compared with three laboratory adapted strains of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV): NJ Hazelhurst, NJ Ogden and Indiana San Juan. Successive undiluted passages showed that the virulent isolates did not readily exhibit 'autointerference' because they did not readily generate and amplify DI particles. Viral RNA synthesis of isolates that were exposed to homotypic or heterotypic DI particles generated from the laboratory strains showed that the isolates were totally resistant to the heterotypic DI particle and partially resistant to the homotypic DI particle. In contrast, Indiana San Juan and NJ Ogden were inhibited by hetero- or homotypic DI particles. NJ Hazelhurst more closely resembled the isolates. This demonstrates that virulence of VSV in its natural setting may be related to a number of factors, including the slower generation and amplification of endogenous DI particles, as well as the increased resistance of the virus to some pre-existing DI particles.
Insights
Virulent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) strains showed reduced defective interfering (DI) particle generation. This resistance to DI particles may contribute to VSV virulence in natural outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epizootiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Defective interfering (DI) particles are known to modulate viral infections.
- Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) causes significant epizootic disease.
- The role of DI particles in VSV epizootiology remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of DI particles in the epizootiology of vesicular stomatitis.
- To compare the DI particle generation and interference susceptibility of virulent VSV isolates and laboratory-adapted strains.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of two virulent New Jersey (NJ) VSV isolates with three laboratory-adapted VSV strains (NJ Hazelhurst, NJ Ogden, Indiana San Juan).
- Analysis of viral RNA synthesis following exposure to homotypic and heterotypic DI particles.
- Assessment of autointerference through successive undiluted passages.
Main Results:
- Virulent VSV isolates exhibited limited autointerference, indicating reduced DI particle generation and amplification.
- Virulent isolates demonstrated resistance to heterotypic DI particles and partial resistance to homotypic DI particles.
- Laboratory-adapted strains NJ Ogden and Indiana San Juan were susceptible to both homotypic and heterotypic DI particles, while NJ Hazelhurst showed intermediate characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Virulence of VSV may be linked to slower endogenous DI particle generation and amplification.
- Increased resistance of virulent VSV to pre-existing DI particles could be a factor in disease severity.
- DI particle dynamics offer potential insights into VSV epizootiology and virulence mechanisms.