Transgenic expression of the 3D polymerase inhibits Theiler's virus infection and demyelination.

ABSTRACT: The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 3D(pol) is required for the elongation of positive- and negative-stranded picornavirus RNA. During the course of investigating the effect of the transgenic expression of viral genes on the host immune response, we evaluated the viral load present in the host after infection. To our surprise, we found that 3D transgenic expression in genetically susceptible FVB mice led to substantially lower viral loads after infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV). As a result, spinal cord damage caused by chronic viral infection in the central nervous system was reduced in FVB mice that expressed 3D. This led to the preservation of large-diameter axons and motor function in these mice. The 3D transgene also lowered early viral loads when expressed i

SUBMITTER: Kerkvliet J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2786735 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature