The molecular virology and reverse genetics of influenza C virus.
Influenza C virus, an enveloped virus containing seven single-stranded RNA segments of negative polarity, belongs to the genus Influenza C Virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. A number of questions remain to be resolved with regard to the molecular virology and epidemiology of the virus. To address them, we have established a virus-like particle (VLP) generation system and reverse genetics of the virus and succeeded in clarifying the structure-function relationship of the M1 protein of the virus. Although the approach adopted was similar to that for influenza A virus reverse genetics, the number of infectious influenza C viruses generated was much lower than that for influenza A virus. Based on a comparison of the number of influenza C VLPs with that of influenza A VLPs generated using a similar system, we proposed a virion generation mechanism unique to influenza C virus.
Muraki
Yasushi
Y
Department of Microbiology, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. ymuraki@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Hongo
Seiji
S
D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology*; D009982:Gammainfluenzavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010802:Phylogeny; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins