Development of a Model System for Tick-Borne Flavivirus Persistence in HEK 293T Cells.

ABSTRACT: UNLABELLED:We devised a model system to study persistent infection by the tick-borne flavivirus Langat virus (LGTV) in 293T cells. Infection with a molecularly cloned LGTV strain produced an acute lytic crisis that left few surviving cells. The culture was repopulated by cells that were ~90% positive for LGTV E protein, thus initiating a persistent infection that was maintained for at least 35 weeks without additional lytic crises. Staining of cells for viral proteins and ultrastructural analysis revealed only minor differences from the acute phase of infection. Infectious LGTV decreased markedly over the study period, but the number of viral genomes remained relatively constant, suggesting the development of defective interfering particles (DIPs). Viral genome changes were investigated by

SUBMITTER: Mlera L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4462619 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature