Isolation and characterisation of a defective measles virus from a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patient.
A cytopathic measles virus was isolated from a brain biopsy of a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) patient. The agent could be transferred to Vero cells by cocultivation, but the infectivity always remained cell-associated -ie, a defective virus infection. The cell-associated nature of the virus was retained through 25 passages in Vero cells. Intracerebral inoculation of hamsters (2-6 days old) with the cocultured Vero cells gave rise to 100% mortality in 5-7 days. The virus retained its cell-associated nature after passage in hamsters. Electron microscopy of the brain and Vero cocultures showed the presence of virus-like ribonucleoparticles mainly in the nucleus. The presence of viral antigens in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and on the plasma membranes was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Using a combination of immunological and biochemical techniques, it was shown that all the viral proteins were synthesized with the exception of the haemagglutinin. Inclusion of the fusion inhibitor SV4814 (CBZ-D phenylalanine-L-phenylalanine-L-arginine-NO2) in the culture medium led to the elimination of the SSPE infection.
D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins