title: Absolute linkage of virulence and central nervous system cell tropism of reoviruses to viral hemagglutinin.
abstract: That the hemagglutinin (HA) of reovirus, encoded in the S1 gene, determines the central nervous system (CNS) cell tropism of reovirus type 1 and 3 was shown using recombinant clones containing nine genes from one serotype and the S1 gene from the other. Clone 1.HA3 contains nine genes from type 1 and the S1 gene from type 3; 3.HA1 is the reciprocal clone. Type 3 and 1.HA3 cause a fatal encephalitis in newborn mice with neuronal destruction but no ependymal cell damage, whereas type 1 and 3.HA1 cause a nonfatal ependymal infection but no neuronal damage. Immunofluorescent studies showed no viral antigen in ependymal cells of mice infected with type 3 or 1.HA3 or in neuronal cells of mice infected with type 1 or 3.HA1. With type 3 or clones containing the type 3 HA, maximal brain titers were 10(10) plaque-forming units; maximal titers were 10(8) plaque-forming units for type 1 or clones containing the type 1 HA. This pattern of reovirus virulence for CNS probably relates to the specific interaction of viral HA with neuronal or ependymal surface receptors.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D051379:Mice; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000254:growth & development*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral