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Characterization of the Vaccinia Virus A35R Protein and Its Role in Virulence.
- Source :
-
Journal of Virology . Jan2006, Vol. 80 Issue 1, p306-313. 8p. 7 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- The vaccinia virus A35R gene is highly conserved among poxviruses and encodes a previously uncharacterized hydrophobic acidic protein. Western blotting with anti-A35R peptide antibodies indicated that the protein is expressed early in infection and resolved as a single sharp band of -23 kDa, slightly higher than the 20 kDa predicted from its sequence. The protein band appeared to be the same molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis, whether expressed in an in vitro transcription/translation system without microsomes or expressed in infected cells, suggesting that it was not glycosylated. A mutant virus with the A35R gene deleted (vA35Δ) formed wild-type-sized plaques on all cell lines tested (human, monkey, mouse, and rabbit); thus, A35R is not required for replication and does not appear to be a host range gene. Although the A35R protein is hydrophobic, it is unlikely to be an integral membrane protein, as it partitioned to the aqueous phase during TX-114 partitioning. The protein could not be detected in virus-infected cell supernatants. A35R localized intracellularly to the virus factories, where the first stages of morphogenesis occur. The vA35Δ mutant formed near-normal levels of the various morphogenie stages of infectious virus particles and supported normal acid-induced fusion of virus-infected cells. Despite normal growth and morphogenesis in vitro, the vA35Δ mutant virus was attenuated in intranasal challenge of mice compared to wild-type and A35R rescue virus. Thus, the intracellular A35R protein plays a role in virulence. The A35R has little homology to any protein outside of poxviruses, suggesting a novel virulence mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022538X
- Volume :
- 80
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Virology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19604186
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.80.1.306-313.2006