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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
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A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
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Generation and Characterization of an Influenza D Reporter Virus.
Lukas Probst1,2, Laura Laloli1,2, Manon Flore Licheri1
1Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
Viruses
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a fluorescent reporter virus for Influenza D virus (IDV) to aid in antiviral drug discovery and study viral replication in livestock and potentially humans.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Influenza D virus (IDV) infects livestock and has zoonotic potential.
- Understanding IDV host tropism and developing antivirals are crucial.
- Recombinant reporter viruses are valuable for studying viral infections and drug discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate a fluorescent reporter IDV for antiviral screening.
- To investigate methods for incorporating a reporter gene into the IDV genome.
- To establish a tool for monitoring IDV replication and discovering antiviral compounds.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a reverse genetic system to create a fluorescent reporter IDV.
- Incorporated the mNeonGreen (mNG) gene as a fusion protein (NS1, NS2) or separate protein.
- Assessed reporter virus rescue, stability through serial passaging, and conducted antiviral screening.
Main Results:
- Successfully rescued attenuated fluorescent reporter IDV strains expressing mNG.
- mNG gene stability was observed up to three passages before deletions occurred.
- Proof-of-principle antiviral screening identified two compounds affecting IDV infection.
Conclusions:
- Established a novel recombinant IDV reporter virus system.
- The reporter virus is suitable for antiviral drug discovery and monitoring IDV replication.
- This molecular tool advances the investigation of Influenza D virus.
