A trans-complementing recombination trap demonstrates a low propensity of flaviviruses for intermolecular recombination.

ABSTRACT: Intermolecular recombination between the genomes of closely related RNA viruses can result in the emergence of novel strains with altered pathogenic potential and antigenicity. Although recombination between flavivirus genomes has never been demonstrated experimentally, the potential risk of generating undesirable recombinants has nevertheless been a matter of concern and controversy with respect to the development of live flavivirus vaccines. As an experimental system for investigating the ability of flavivirus genomes to recombine, we developed a "recombination trap," which was designed to allow the products of rare recombination events to be selected and amplified. To do this, we established reciprocal packaging systems consisting of pairs of self-replicating subgenomic RNAs (replicons)

SUBMITTER: Taucher C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2798405 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature