title: Effects of the nuclear localization of the N(pro) protein of classical swine fever virus on its virulence in pigs.
abstract: The N(pro) protein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. However, it is unknown whether the nuclear localization of N(pro) correlates with the virulence of CSFV in the host. Previously, we showed that the N(pro) protein fused with interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) was present only in the cytoplasm. Here, we generated and evaluated a recombinant CSFV vSM-IRF3 harboring the IRF3 gene inserted into the N(pro) gene of the highly virulent CSFV Shimen strain. Compared to the even nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-N(pro) fusion expressed by the recombinant CSFV EGFP-CSFV, vSM-IRF3 expressed an IRF3-N(pro) fusion protein that only was localized in the cytoplasm. vSM-IRF3 was markedly attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and the inoculated pigs were completely protected from lethal CSFV challenge, whereas the parental virus as well as EGFP-CSFV exhibited a typical virulent phenotype. Taken together, the nuclear localization of N(pro) plays a significant role in the CSFV replication and virulence.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Lianfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Bibo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China. Electronic address: lisu@hvri.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, PR China. Electronic address: huajiqiu@hvri.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Hua-Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D006691:Classical Swine Fever / Q000821:virology*; D006692:Classical Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013552:Swine; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C505229:N(pro) protein, swine fever virus
keywords: Classical swine fever virus; Interferon regulatory factor 3; N(pro) protein; Nuclear localization; Virulence