Neurovirulence of polytropic murine retrovirus is influenced by two separate regions on opposite sid
June 28th, 2008 | by admin |Neurovirulence of polytropic murine retrovirus is influenced by two separate regions on opposite sides of the envelope protein receptor binding domain.
Changes in the envelope protein of retroviruses can alter the ability of these viruses to infect the CNS and induce neurological disease. In the current study, nine envelope residues were found to influence neurovirulence of the Friend murine polytropic retrovirus, Fr98. When projected on a three dimensional model, these residues were clustered in two spatially separated groups, one in the variable region B of the receptor binding site, and the other on the opposite side of the envelope. Further studies indicated a role for these residues in virus replication in the CNS, although the residues did not affect viral entry.
Peterson KE, Pourciau S, Du M, Lacasse R, Pathmajeyan M, Poulsen D, Agbandje-McKenna M, Wehrly K, Chesebro B.
Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70803; Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 903 South 4 St., Hamilton, MT 59840; University of Montana, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience, Missoula, MT, 59801; Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610.