The prM-independent packaging of pseudotyped Japanese encephalitis virus.
As noted in other flaviviruses, the envelope (E) protein of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into target cells, thus eliciting neutralizing antibody response. The formation of the flavivirus prM/E complex is followed by the cleavage of precursor membrane (prM) and membrane (M) protein by a cellular signalase. To test the effect of prM in JEV biology, we constructed JEV-MuLV pseudotyped viruses that express the prM/E protein or E only. The infectivity and titers of JEV pseudotyped viruses were examined in several cell lines. We also analyzed the neutralizing capacities with anti-JEV sera from JEV-immunized mice. Even though prM is crucial for multiple stages of JEV biology, the JEV-pseudotyped viruses produced with prM/E or with E only showed similar infectivity and titers in several cell lines and similar neutralizing sensitivity. These results showed that JEV-MuLV pseudotyped viruses did not require prM for production of infectious pseudotyped viruses.
Lee
Hee Jung
HJ
Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Technology, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea. ziniga@naver.com
Min
Kyung-Il
KI
Lee
Jungeun
J
Kang
Sin-Hyung
SH
Jeon
Wonkyung
W
Nam
Jae Hwan
JH
Ju
Young Ran
YR
Kim
Young Bong
YB
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004285:Dogs; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C074932:prM protein, Flavivirus