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The article focuses on the use of the Product Enhanced Reverse Transcriptase (PERT) assay for detecting replication-competent viruses in retroviral vectors. Topics include the comparison of PERT with the S+/L- assay, the effectiveness of PERT in distinguishing virus-free from virus-containing vector products, and the application of PERT for vectors pseudotyped with GALV and VSVG envelopes.

According to a preprint abstract, researchers have developed a method to efficiently produce a virus called vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with the glycoprotein (G) of the Borna disease virus (BoDV-1). They found that a specific amino acid substitution in the BoDV-1-G protein enhanced the infectivity of the VSV pseudotyped virus. This finding may have implications for increasing the infectivity of other viruses pseudotyped with the glycoprotein of the BoDV-1. The study also provides insight into the cell entry process of BoDV-1. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, has focused on the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and its potential to replicate the entry of the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV). The researchers engineered an infectious molecular clone of VSV, replacing its native glycoprotein with the SADS-CoV spike protein. Through serial passages, they identified an 11-amino-acid truncation in the S protein that enhanced viral propagation. The modified virus, rVSV-Venus-SADS SD11, showed susceptibility to neutralization and the potential for a recombinant VSV-vectored SADS-CoV vaccine. The study also revealed the role of TMPRSS2 in SADS-CoV entry and demonstrated the development of potent neutralizing antibodies in mice vaccinated with rVSV-Venus-SADS SD11. This research provides a secure and practical tool for studying SADS-CoV entry and exploring the potential for a vaccine. [Extracted from the article]