title: An L (polymerase)-deficient rabies virus defective interfering particle RNA is replicated and transcribed by heterologous helper virus L proteins.
abstract: A rabies virus-derived defective interfering particle (DI) was isolated and characterized. The DI genome contained an internal deletion of 6.4 kb spanning the 3' moiety of the pseudogene region (psi) and most of the L gene. DI-specific monocistronic N, NS, and M mRNAs as well as a G/L fusion mRNA were transcribed in cells coinfected with DI and helper virus. In addition, polycistronic DI RNAs and standard virus RNAs with internal A stretches and intergenic regions were found. Superinfection experiments showed that heterologous rabies-related viruses (Lyssavirus serotypes 2, 3, and 4) can complement the L deficiency of the DI genome. The heterologous polymerase proteins recognize correctly the replicational and transcriptional signal sequences of the Lyssavirus serotype 1-derived DI.
authors.affiliation: Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Conzelmann
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D004247:DNA; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase