title: Changes in the NS gene of neurovirulent strains of influenza affect splicing.
abstract: The nonstructural (NS) gene has been identified as an accessory factor in determining neurovirulence for influenza A virus. The nucleotide sequence of the NS gene of the neurovirulent variant A/NWS/33 was determined and compared with its parent, A/WS/33. Alterations in the mRNA structure of the gene were observed that serve to mask the 3' splice site. Changes in this region were shown to correlate with reduced splicing of the NS gene in neurovirulent strains.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins