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Pathogen-derived resistance to viral infection using a negative regulatory molecule
R Grumet1, J C Sanford, S A Johnston
1Botany Department, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27706.
Virology
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Pathogen-derived resistance uses pathogen genes to protect hosts. Researchers engineered E. coli with a viral coat protein gene, conferring high resistance to QB phage infection.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Virology
Background:
- Pathogen-derived resistance is a strategy for engineering disease resistance using pathogen genes.
- Four mechanisms were predicted using bacteriophage QB and E. coli.
- The QB coat protein's role in blocking viral replication was investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate and elucidate the first mechanism of pathogen-derived resistance.
- To investigate the effect of QB coat protein expression on E. coli.
- To determine if QB coat protein confers resistance to phage infection.
Main Methods:
- Transferring the QB coat protein gene to susceptible E. coli.
- Constitutively expressing the QB coat protein at low levels.
- Challenging engineered E. coli with QB, SP, and f2 phages.
Main Results:
- Low-level QB coat protein expression conferred high resistance to QB infection without harming the host.
- Resistance was not due to RNA interference, loss of pili, or premature encapsidation.
- QB coat protein provided intermediate resistance to SP phage but not f2 phage.
Conclusions:
- The QB coat protein acts as a negative regulatory molecule to block viral infection.
- This mechanism of pathogen-derived resistance is effective for genetic engineering.
- Negative regulatory molecules offer a promising strategy for pathogen resistance.