title: Formation of peste des petits ruminants spikeless virus-like particles by co-expression of M and N proteins in insect cells.
abstract: Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) has a non-segmented negative sense RNA genome and is classified within the Morbillivirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae. Using the Bac-to-Bac® baculovirus expression system, we constructed recombinant baculoviruses that were able to co-express the PPRV matrix and nucleocapsid proteins in insect cells under the control of the polyhedron and p10 promoters, respectively. The results showed that although both structural proteins were expressed at a relatively low level, the interaction between them caused the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs) by viewing of transmission electron microscopy. The VLPs morphologically resembled authentic PPRVs but lacked spikes protruding from the particulate surfaces. Interestingly, the diameter of PPRV VLPs ranged from 100 to 150 nm, far less than the mean diameter (400-500 nm) of parental virions.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, No. 369 Nanjing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266032, China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, No. 5333 Xi'an Road, Changchun, Jilin 130062, China.
authors.forename: Fuxiao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, No. 369 Nanjing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266032, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, No. 369 Nanjing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266032, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, No. 5333 Xi'an Road, Changchun, Jilin 130062, China. Electronic address: zsliu1959@163.com.
authors.forename: Zengshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, No. 369 Nanjing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266032, China. Electronic address: wangzhiliang@cahec.cn.
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029021:Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants / Q000821:virology*; D018107:Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins
keywords: Baculovirus expression system; Co-expression; Matrix protein; Nucleocapsid protein; Peste des petits ruminants virus; Virus-like particle