Related Experiment Videos
Acholeplasma laidlawii cells acutely and chronically infected with group 1 acholeplasmavirus
Abstract:
Interactions between group 1 acholeplasmaviruses and their host cells were studied. Acutely infected, chronically infected and uninfected cultures of Acholeplasma laidlawii strain JA1 were compared by their growth in broth and on agar, by the sensitivities of the uninfected and chronically infected cells to representatives of each of the three groups of acholeplasmaviruses, and by their SDS-PAGE polypeptide profiles. Acutely infected cells resembled uninfected cells by these criteria, except for the fact that progeny virus was being released. Two types of chronically infected cells were found:rapid growers (the same doubling time as uninfected cells) and slow growers. The latter resembled uninfected cells, except for their slower growth and low-level release of virus, and the former was resistant to group 1 viruses and had a unique polypeptide profile. These biological characterizations help to establish the non-lytic, non-cytocidal cycle of the group 1 acholeplasmaviruses.
Insights
Group 1 acholeplasmaviruses establish a non-lytic infection cycle in Acholeplasma laidlawii. Chronic infections result in two cell types: slow growers with low virus release and rapid growers resistant to infection.
Area of Science:
- Mycoplasmology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Acholeplasma laidlawii is a host for acholeplasmaviruses.
- Acholeplasmaviruses are classified into three groups.
- Understanding virus-host interactions is crucial for characterizing viral life cycles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactions between group 1 acholeplasmaviruses and Acholeplasma laidlawii host cells.
- To characterize the biological differences between acutely and chronically infected cells.
- To elucidate the nature of the acholeplasmavirus replication cycle.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of growth curves (broth and agar) for uninfected, acutely infected, and chronically infected Acholeplasma laidlawii.
- Sensitivity assays of host cells to different groups of acholeplasmaviruses.
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to analyze cellular polypeptide profiles.
Main Results:
- Acutely infected cells showed no significant differences from uninfected cells, apart from active virus release.
- Two distinct types of chronically infected cells were identified: rapid growers and slow growers.
- Rapid growers exhibited resistance to group 1 acholeplasmaviruses and possessed a unique protein profile, while slow growers had slower growth and low-level virus release.
Conclusions:
- Group 1 acholeplasmaviruses exhibit a non-lytic and non-cytocidal infection cycle.
- Chronic infection leads to distinct cellular phenotypes, including resistance to superinfection.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of persistent viral infections in prokaryotes.