Deletion of the UL4 gene sequence of equine herpesvirus 1 precludes the generation of defective interfering particles.

ABSTRACT: Serial, high multiplicity passage of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) leads to the generation of defective interfering particles (DIP). EHV-1 DIP inhibit and interfere with the replication of standard EHV-1, establishing a state of persistent infection. These DIP package severely truncated and rearranged forms of the standard viral genome. Contained within the DIP genome are only three genes: UL3, UL4, and a unique hybrid gene (Hyb). The hybrid gene forms through a recombination event that fuses portions of the early regulatory IR4 and UL5 genes and is essential for DIP-mediated interference. The UL4 gene is an early gene dispensable for lytic replication and inhibits viral and cellular gene expression. However, the contribution of the UL4 gene during DIP-mediated persistent infection is unkno

SUBMITTER: Charvat RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3595000 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature