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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
Visualizing lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in cells and living mice
Yuxi Wen1, Huan Xu1, Weiwei Wan2
1Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Abstract:
Mammarenavirus are a large family of enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses that include several agents responsible for severe hemorrhagic fevers. Until now, no FDA-licensed drug has been admitted for treating an arenavirus infection, and only few effective anti-arenavirus drugs have been tested in vivo. In this work, we designed a recombinant reporter arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus that stably expressed nanoluciferase (LCMV-Nluc). The LCMV-Nluc was proved to share similar biological properties with wild-type LCMV and the Nluc intensity reliably reflected viral replication both in vitro and in vivo. Replication of the Nluc-encoding virus in living mice can be visualized by real-time bioluminescent imaging, and bioluminescence can be detected in a variety of organs of infected mice. This work provides a novel approach that enables real-time study of the arenavirus infection and is a convenient and valuable tool for screening of compounds that are active against arenaviruses in vitro and in living mice.
Insights
Researchers developed a new tool to study mammarenavirus infections. This reporter virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus expressing nanoluciferase (LCMV-Nluc), allows real-time tracking of viral replication in vitro and in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mammarenaviruses are enveloped, negative-strand RNA viruses responsible for severe hemorrhagic fevers.
- Currently, no FDA-approved drugs exist for treating arenavirus infections, and limited anti-arenavirus therapies have been tested in vivo.
- Effective tools for studying arenavirus replication and for screening potential therapeutics are urgently needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a recombinant reporter virus for real-time monitoring of arenavirus infection.
- To establish a tool for evaluating the efficacy of anti-arenavirus compounds in vitro and in vivo.
- To investigate the biological properties of a novel nanoluciferase-expressing arenavirus.
Main Methods:
- Designed a recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) engineered to stably express nanoluciferase (Nluc).
- Validated that LCMV-Nluc shares biological properties with wild-type LCMV.
- Utilized real-time bioluminescent imaging to visualize viral replication in vitro and in vivo in infected mice.
Main Results:
- LCMV-Nluc demonstrated reliable correlation between Nluc intensity and viral replication.
- Viral replication in living mice could be visualized non-invasively using bioluminescent imaging.
- Bioluminescence was detectable across various organs in infected mice, indicating systemic viral spread.
Conclusions:
- A novel recombinant reporter arenavirus (LCMV-Nluc) has been successfully developed.
- This tool enables real-time study of arenavirus infection dynamics.
- LCMV-Nluc serves as a valuable platform for high-throughput screening of anti-arenavirus drug candidates.
