Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of Aichi virus (a new member of the family Picornaviridae) and mutational analysis of a stem-loop structure at the 5' end of the genome.

ABSTRACT: Aichi virus is the type species of a new genus, Kobuvirus, of the family Picornaviridae. In this study, we constructed a full-length cDNA clone of Aichi virus whose in vitro transcripts were infectious to Vero cells. During construction of the infectious cDNA clone, a novel sequence of 32 nucleotides was identified at the 5' end of the genome. Computer-assisted prediction of the secondary structure of the 5' end of the genome, including the novel sequence, suggested the formation of a stable stem-loop structure consisting of 42 nucleotides. The function of this stem-loop in virus replication was investigated using various site-directed mutants derived from the infectious cDNA clone. Our data indicated that correct folding of the stem-loop at the 5' end of the positive strand, but not at th

SUBMITTER: Sasaki J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC115046 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature