Creation of Rift Valley fever viruses with four-segmented genomes reveals flexibility in bunyavirus genome packaging.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Bunyavirus genomes comprise a small (S), a medium (M), and a large (L) RNA segment of negative polarity. Although the untranslated regions have been shown to comprise signals required for transcription, replication, and encapsidation, the mechanisms that drive the packaging of at least one S, M, and L segment into a single virion to generate infectious virus are largely unknown. One of the most important members of the Bunyaviridae family that causes devastating disease in ruminants and occasionally humans is the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). We studied the flexibility of RVFV genome packaging by splitting the glycoprotein precursor gene, encoding the (NSm)GnGc polyprotein, into two individual genes encoding either (NSm)Gn or Gc. Using reverse genetics, six viruses wit

SUBMITTER: Wichgers Schreur PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4178868 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature