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Xenotropic viruses: murine leukemia viruses associated with NIH Swiss, NZB, and other mouse strains
Abstract:
Murine leukemia virus activity is present in tissues from NIH Swiss and other mouse strains after cocultivation with nonvirus-yielding rat cells transformed by Harvey sarcoma virus. The resulting pseudotype sarcoma virus has the same type-specific coat as the virus previously isolated from New Zealand black (NZB) mice, and, like the NZB virus, it is unable to infect mouse cells. The results show that this NZB type virus is endogenous in other strains of mice and is xenotropic; that is, it grows only in cells foreign to the host. This is the first clear demonstration that NIH Swiss mice also carry indigenous infectious murine leukemia virus.
Insights
NIH Swiss mice carry an endogenous infectious murine leukemia virus. This xenotropic virus, found in other mouse strains, grows only in foreign host cells, not mouse cells.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Murine leukemia virus (MLV) is a retrovirus that infects mice.
- Some strains of mice carry endogenous MLVs that can be activated under certain conditions.
- The Harvey sarcoma virus (HSv) is a replication-defective retrovirus that can be used to pseudotype other viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of MLV in NIH Swiss mice.
- To determine if MLV found in NIH Swiss mice is related to MLV found in New Zealand black (NZB) mice.
- To demonstrate the xenotropic nature of indigenous MLV in mice.
Main Methods:
- Cocultivation of NIH Swiss mouse tissues with nonvirus-yielding rat cells transformed by Harvey sarcoma virus.
- Characterization of the resulting pseudotype sarcoma virus, including its type-specific coat and infectivity.
- Comparison of the isolated virus with MLV previously isolated from NZB mice.
Main Results:
- Murine leukemia virus activity was detected in NIH Swiss mouse tissues.
- The resulting virus was a pseudotype sarcoma virus with the same type-specific coat as NZB virus.
- This virus was unable to infect mouse cells, indicating xenotropic activity.
- This study provided the first clear demonstration of indigenous infectious MLV in NIH Swiss mice.
Conclusions:
- NIH Swiss mice harbor an endogenous infectious MLV.
- This MLV is xenotropic, growing only in non-host cells.
- The findings suggest that xenotropic MLV is present in multiple mouse strains and is not limited to NZB mice.