A yeast-based reverse genetics system to generate HCoV-OC43 reporter viruses encoding an eighth subgenomic RNA.

ABSTRACT: Coronaviruses have large, positive-sense single-stranded RNA genomes that challenge conventional strategies for mutagenesis. Yeast genetics has been used to manipulate large viral genomes, including those of herpesviruses and coronaviruses. This method, known as transformation-associated recombination (TAR), involves assembling complete viral genomes from dsDNA copies of viral genome fragments via homologous recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we report our development of a TAR assembly and mutagenesis system for the endemic, seasonal human coronavirus (HCoV) strain OC43. HCoV-OC43 generally causes mild respiratory symptoms and is classified as a biosafety level 2 agent, making it useful for studying fundamental aspects of coronavirus biology and for comparative studies

SUBMITTER: Duguay BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11852775 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature