Cytopathogenicity of a pestivirus correlates with a 27-nucleotide insertion

Norbert Tautz, Gregor Meyers, Robert Stark, Edward J. Dubovi, Heinz Jürgen Thiel*

*Corresponding author for this work
64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cytopathogenic (cp) bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strains are generated in cattle persistently infected with noncytopathogenic (noncp) BVDV, cp BVDV strains are considered crucial for the development of fatal mucosal disease. Comparative analysis of cp and noncp BVDV strains isolated from one animal suffering from mucosal disease revealed that the genomes of the cp BVDV strain (CP7) and the corresponding noncp BVDV strain (NCP7) are highly homologous. However, only the genome of CP7 contains an insertion of 27 nucleotides in the NS2 coding region. The inserted sequence represents a duplication of bases 4064 to 4090 of the viral genome, located between the formerly neighboring nucleotides 4353 and 4354. Parts of the viral polyproteins of CP7 and NCP7 were expressed in the T7 vaccinia virus system. These studies revealed that the insertion identified in the CP7 genome is necessary and sufficient for the induction of NS2-3 cleavage. Since the expression of NS3 is strictly correlated to cp BVDV, the insertion identified in the genome of BVDV CP7 represents most likely the relevant mutation leading to the evolvement of CP7 from NCP7.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Virology
Volume70
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)7851-7858
Number of pages8
ISSN0022-538X
Publication statusPublished - 01.11.1996

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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