title: Analysis of an influenza A virus mutant with a deletion in the NS segment.
abstract: The influenza virus host range mutant CR43-3, derived by recombination from the A/Alaska/6/77 and the cold-adapted and temperature-sensitive A/Ann Arbor/6/60 viruses, has previously been shown to possess a defect in the NS gene. To characterize this defect, nucleotide sequence data were obtained from cloned cDNAs. The CR43-3 NS gene was found to be 854 nucleotides long and to derive from the NS gene of the A/Alaska/6/77 parent virus by an internal deletion of 36 nucleotides. Direct sequencing of RNA 8 of CR43-3 virus confirmed that the deletion in the NS1-coding region was not an artifact that was generated during the cloning procedure. Protein analysis indicated that the NS1 protein of CR43-3 virus was synthesized in equal amounts in the restrictive (MDCK) cells as well as in the permissive (PCK) host cells. Also, indirect immunofluorescence studies of virus-infected cells showed that the NS1 protein of CR43-3 virus, like that of the parent viruses, accumulates in the nuclei of both cell systems. Although no differences in synthesis or localization of the NS1 protein could be detected, a consistent reduction in M1 protein was noted in CR43-3 virus-infected, nonpermissive cells as compared with that of the permissive host. Since analysis of the CR43-3 virus required us to obtain the NS nucleotide sequence of the 1977 isolate A/Alaska/6/77, we were able to compare this sequence with those of corresponding genes of earlier strains. The result of this analysis supports the idea of a common lineage of human influenza A viruses isolated over a 43-year period.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D004247:DNA