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Visna virus dUTPase is dispensable for neuropathogenicity
G Pétursson1, P Turelli, S Matthíasdóttir
1Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, Reykjavik. gpet@rhi.hi.is
Journal of Virology
|January 28, 1998
Summary
Deleting the dUTPase gene from visna virus reduced viral load but did not alter neuropathogenic effects. The dUTPase gene is dispensable for causing brain lesions in visna virus infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Visna virus, a lentivirus, causes slow, progressive diseases in sheep.
- dUTPase (deoxyuridine triphosphate triphosphatase) is an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis and repair.
- The role of dUTPase in visna virus pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the dUTPase gene in visna virus replication and neuropathogenesis.
- To determine if the dUTPase gene is essential for inducing brain lesions.
Main Methods:
- A visna virus mutant with a deleted dUTPase-encoding region was created.
- Intracerebral injection of the mutant and wild-type viruses into susceptible hosts.
- Viral load quantification and neuropathological assessment.
Main Results:
- The mutant visna virus exhibited a reduced viral load, particularly in the lungs, compared to the wild type.
- Neuropathogenic effects, including brain lesions, were comparable between the mutant and wild-type virus infections.
- The dUTPase gene was dispensable for the induction of brain lesions.
Conclusions:
- The dUTPase gene is not essential for visna virus neuropathogenesis.
- While dUTPase may influence viral replication, its absence does not prevent the virus from causing neurological disease.