title: A recombinant rabies virus expressing luciferase.
abstract: A recombinant Rabies virus (RV) expressing firefly luciferase (rRV-luc) was generated by an improved reverse genetics system. Its biological properties were compared with those of the parental RV. The rRV-luc grew in BHK-21 cells similarly to RV, but its virulence for mice was weaker as shown by the lower infectious titers in brain. Rising infectious titers of rRV-luc during its passaging in BHK-21 cells indicated a virus adaptation, while the luciferase (luc) expression was stable. These results suggest that the recombinant RV carrying luc gene might prove a useful tool for further analysis of pathogenesis of RV in small animal models.
authors.affiliation: South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dun
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D011818:Rabies / Q000821:virology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D008156:Luciferases