title: Structural and biological properties of Cucumber mosaic virus particles carrying hepatitis C virus-derived epitopes.
abstract: The Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a three-component isodiametric plant virus with an extremely wide host range, present worldwide. A pseudorecombinant form has been described, deriving from the RNA3 component of the CMV-S strain, carrying the coat protein (CP) gene, and the RNA 1, 2 components of the CMV-D strain. The CP gene was then engineered to express one or two copies of a synthetic peptide derived from many hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) sequences of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein E2 (the so-called R9 mimotope). Study of the symptoms pattern displayed in tobacco by these chimeric CMV particles, together with determination of their structural characteristics, assessed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and electron microscopy, revealed a possible relationship between the biological behavior and the structural properties of virus components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Plant Protection and Agrobiotechnology, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nuzzaci
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bochicchio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Stradis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natilla
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piazzolla
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tamburro
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000821:virology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000821:virology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins