title: Rabies viruses infect primary cultures of murine, feline, and human microglia and astrocytes.
abstract: Recent studies have reported the detection of rabies viral antigens and virions in astrocytes and microglia of rabies-infected animals. As a first step toward understanding whether these glial cells may be involved in rabies virus replication, persistence, and/or pathogenesis, we explored their potential to be infected in vitro. Primary cultures of murine, feline, and human microglia and astrocytes were infected with several different rabies viruses: two unpassaged street virus isolates, a cell culture-adapted strain, and a mouse brain-passaged strain. Infection, as determined by immunofluorescence, was detected in 15 of the 16 (94%) virus-glial cell combinations. Replication of infectious virus, determined by infectivity assay, was detected in 7 of the 8 (88%) virus-cell combinations. These results show that astrocytes and microglia can be infected by rabies viruses, suggesting that they may have a potential role in disease, perhaps contributing to viral spread, persistence and/or neuronal dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ewalt
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lodmell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000821:virology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000254:growth & development*; D014779:Virus Replication