West Nile virus genome with glycosylated envelope protein and deletion of alpha helices 1, 2, and 4 in the capsid protein is noninfectious and efficiently secretes subviral particles.
Flavivirus genomes with deletions in the capsid (C) gene are attractive vaccine candidates, as they secrete highly immunogenic subviral particles (SVPs) without generating infectious virus. Here, we report that cytomegalovirus promoter-driven cDNA of West Nile virus Kunjin (KUNV) containing a glycosylation motif in the envelope (E) gene and a combined deletion of alpha helices 1, 2, and 4 in C produces significantly more SVPs than KUNV cDNAs with nonglycosylated E and various other deletions in C.
Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
Justin A
JA
Roby
Roy A
RA
Hall
Alexander A
AA
Khromykh
D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057074:Virus Release; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins