title: Generation of Marburg virus-like particles by co-expression of glycoprotein and matrix protein.
abstract: Marburg virus (MARV), the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever, has a characteristic filamentous morphology. Here we report that co-expression of MARV glycoprotein and matrix protein (VP40) in mammalian cells leads to spontaneous budding of filamentous particles strikingly similar to wild-type MARV. In addition, these particles elicit an immune response in BALB/c mice. The generation of non-replicating Marburg virus-like particles (VLPs) should significantly facilitate the research on molecular mechanisms of MARV assembly and release. Furthermore, VLPs may be an excellent vaccine candidate against Marburg infection.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Warfield
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuehl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hevey
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmaljohn
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavari
authors.forename: M Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Aman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014162:Transfection; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C080981:VP40 protein, virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins