title: Virulence of and establishment of latency by genetically engineered deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus 1.
abstract: We report the results of studies on the biologic properties of seven deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The genes deleted from six of these mutants map in the S component of HSV-1 DNA and include those specifying the alpha protein 47, the glycoproteins G and E, the viral protein kinase, and two proteins whose functions are not yet known (open reading frames US2 and US11). The seventh virus [HSV-1(F) delta 305] contained a 700-bp deletion in the thymidine kinase gene. The results of intracerebral inoculation of Balb/c mice indicated that all but one of the deletion mutants in the S component were significantly attenuated. The PFU/LD50 ratios for these mutants ranged from 10(4)- to 10(5)-fold higher than that of the wild-type, HSV-1(F). The PFU/LD50 for mutant R7032, from which the glycoprotein E gene had been deleted, was less than 100-fold higher than that of the parent virus. All of the mutants, with one exception, were able to establish latency in mice; the exception, HSV-1(F) delta 305, was able to establish latency in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Institut Merieux, Marcy l'Etoile, Charbonnieres les Bains, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meignier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longnecker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mavromara-Nazos
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roizman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral