Mutation variants generated from nonvirulent coxsackievirus B3 acquire virulence phenotypes by active virus replication.
OBJECTIVE
To understand coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) virulence at the molecular level.


METHODS
A mutation library was generated from noncardiovirulent CVB3/0. Highly virulent mutation variants were recovered and characterized both phenotypically and genotypically.


RESULTS
The variants consistently caused destruction of multiple tissues together with active virus production and induced severe mortality in vivo. The extent of infectious virus generation was directly correlated with that of histopathological aberration. Genotypic analysis of the entire genome indicated that the virulent viruses encode nucleotide substitutions in the 5'-nontranslated region, which have previously been identified in other virulent CVB3s.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides evidence that particular nucleotide substitutions in the 5'-nontranslated region of nonvirulent CVB3 can lead to active virus replication, which is sufficient to induce virulence.
Seo
Ilseon
I
Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jee
Youngmee
Y
Ahn
Jeonghyun
J
Jun
Eun Jung
EJ
Kim
Donghou
D
Joo
Chul Hyun
CH
Kim
Yoo Kyum
YK
Lee
Heuiran
H
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D004279:DNA, Viral