Experimental evidence of recombination in murine noroviruses.
Based on sequencing data, norovirus (NoV) recombinants have been described, but no experimental evidence of recombination in NoVs has been documented. Using the murine norovirus (MNV) model, we investigated the occurrence of genetic recombination between two co-infecting wild-type MNV isolates in RAW cells. The design of a PCR-based genotyping tool allowed accurate discrimination between the parental genomes and the detection of a viable recombinant MNV (Rec MNV) in the progeny viruses. Genetic analysis of Rec MNV identified a homologous-recombination event located at the ORF1-ORF2 overlap. Rec MNV exhibited distinct growth curves and produced smaller plaques than the wild-type MNV in RAW cells. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that MNV undergoes homologous recombination at the previously described recombination hot spot for NoVs, suggesting that the MNV model might be suitable for in vitro studies of NoV recombination. Moreover, the results show that exchange of genetic material between NoVs can generate viruses with distinct biological properties from the parental viruses.
Mathijs
Elisabeth
E
Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Virology and Viral Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
Muylkens
Benoît
B
Mauroy
Axel
A
Ziant
Dominique
D
Delwiche
Thomas
T
Thiry
Etienne
E
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005838:Genotype; D008264:Macrophages / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014774:Virulence
D012367:RNA, Viral