Replication and gene expression of hepatitis B virus in a transgenic mouse that contains the complete viral genome.
We have sought to address the problem of the host and tissue specificity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) by using transgenic mice obtained after injection of head-to-tail dimers of the HBV genome. Viral DNA replication and protein synthesis were obtained in one of nine transgenic mice containing integrated HBV DNA. The RNAs encoding the HBV surface antigen and the core antigen were synthesized in the liver, the kidney, and the heart. In these organs, DNA replicative intermediates similar to those found during normal infection were associated with corelike structures. Large amounts of core polypeptides and capsids were detected in the nuclei in the absence of any pathological effect. These results show that the different steps of HBV multiplication can take place in nonliver nonhuman cells once the problem of entry into the host cell is overcome. In the absence of a small laboratory animal infectable by HBV, such transgenic mice should be helpful for the study of many aspects of viral multiplication.
Farza
H
H
Unité de Recombinaison et Expression Génétique (INSERM U163, CNRS UA 271), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Hadchouel
M
M
Scotto
J
J
Tiollais
P
P
Babinet
C
C
Pourcel
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004720:Endonucleases; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006321:Heart / Q000382:microbiology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases