A Borna disease virus vector for expression of foreign genes in neurons of rodents.
An expression cassette for green fluorescent protein was successfully inserted at a site near the 5' end of the genome of Borna disease virus (BDV). When introduced into a mutant virus with highly active polymerase, the foreign gene was strongly expressed in neurons of infected rats. Since BDV can establish long-term persistence in the central nervous system of rodents, it may be used to engineer efficient vectors for specific delivery of foreign genes into highly differentiated neurons.
Schneider
Urs
U
Department of Virology, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. urs.schneider@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Ackermann
Andreas
A
Staeheli
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase