Viral replicative capacity is the primary determinant of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus persistence and immunosuppression.

ABSTRACT: The Clone 13 (Cl13) strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is widely studied as a model of chronic systemic viral infection. Here, we used reverse genetic techniques to identify the molecular basis of Cl13 persistence and immunosuppression, the characteristics differentiating it from the closely related Armstrong strain. We found that a single-point mutation in the Cl13 polymerase was necessary and partially sufficient for viral persistence and immunosuppression. A glycoprotein mutation known to enhance dendritic cell targeting accentuated both characteristics but when introduced alone, failed to alter the phenotype of the Armstrong strain. The decisive polymerase mutation increased intracellular viral RNA load in plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which we identified as a main initial ta

SUBMITTER: Bergthaler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3003068 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature