Replacement of glycoprotein B gene sequences in herpes simplex virus type 1 strain ANG by corresponding sequences of the strain KOS causes changes of plaque morphology and neuropathogenicity.
DNA sequences encoding glycoprotein B (gB) derived from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain KOS321 were transferred to HSV-1 ANG. In cotransfection experiments the cloned HSV-1 KOS BamHI G fragment served as donor, and genomic DNA of two ANG variants as recipients. One of these variants, HSV-1 ANG path, expresses gC and the other, C18, was a spontaneous gC-negative mutant. Both ANG strains are of the syncytial (syn) phenotype whereas HSV-1 KOS321 is non-syncytial (syn+). Recombinants were identified by means of a monoclonal antibody which selectively recognizes gBKOS. Among the HSV-1 ANG path/gBKOS recombinants, the majority displayed an altered plaque morphology, i.e. they were of the syn+ phenotype. In contrast all of the C18/gBKOS recombinants were of the syn phenotype. The possibility that the mutant C18 carries a syn mutation not present in the parental strain could be excluded. Marker transfer experiments involving subfragments of the gB gene mapped the syn mutation of HSV-1 ANG path to a locus within the gene that has been previously termed syn 3. Subclones of HSV-1 ANG path were established either directly or after intermittent transfection or cotransfection with the KOS BamHI G fragment. The pathogenicity in mice of these clones was compared. The data obtained indicated that at high frequency, the BamHI G fragment confers apathogenicity.
D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus; C038535:glycoprotein gC, herpes simplex virus type 1