Reciprocal complementation of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 lacking either the membrane or fusion gene

Marina Takada1, Ryosuke Matsuura1, Takehiro Kokuho2

  • 1Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.

Insights

Researchers developed two defective bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) strains for efficient protein expression. This reciprocal complementation method enables robust viral vector applications in cell cultures.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is a significant pathogen.
  • Developing efficient viral vectors is crucial for biotechnology and research.
  • Existing BPIV3 vectors have limitations in expressing large or multiple proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create and characterize two defective BPIV3 strains for reciprocal complementation.
  • To establish a novel viral vector system for enhanced protein expression in cell cultures.
  • To demonstrate the utility of this system for expressing large or multiple proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of two BPIV3 strains: one lacking the M gene (ΔM-EGFP) and another lacking the F gene (ΔF-mSB), with fluorescent protein expression.
  • Trans-complementation of defective viral proteins in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells.
  • Co-infection of MDBK cells with both defective strains at low multiplicity of infection (MOI).

Main Results:

  • Easily obtained complemented viruses upon co-infection with ΔM-EGFP and ΔF-mSB.
  • Complemented viruses exhibited growth efficiency comparable to wild-type BPIV3.
  • Successful viral passaging in MDBK cells at MOI as low as 0.01.
  • Evidence suggests the formation of multiploid virus particles containing both defective genomes.

Conclusions:

  • The reciprocal complementation of defective BPIV3 strains is an effective method for generating functional viral vectors.
  • This approach facilitates the expression of large or multiple proteins in cell cultures.
  • The developed BPIV3 vector system offers a promising tool for paramyxovirus-based applications.