engleski

Sequence Analyses of Defective Interfering Genomes of Mumps Virus

Defective interfering (DI) viral genomes arise naturally during viral replication due to the displacement of RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp). They are packaged into viral particles, but cannot replicate without the co-infection with helper non-defective virus. However, once the co-replication takes place, the DI replicate preferentially over non-defective genomes. Thus they attenuate the cytopathic effect caused by a complete viral particle. Strahle et al. showed that the presence of DI genome is a prerequisite for strong activation of interferon β . It is also suggested by some authors that DI RNA contributes to the establishment of viral persistence. The knowledge of the mechanism by which DI genomes are generated is scarce in spite of their significance during infection. To identify potential cis-acting elements involved in the displacement of viral RdRp during genome replication, we amplified and sequenced copy-back DI genomes of six mumps virus strains (four vaccine strains and two wild type strains) propagated in Vero cells at relatively high MOI. In this way we identified up to four types of DI genome for each strain ranging from approx. 800 nt up to 1.3 kb. Sequences were compared in silico and the results will be presented and discussed.

Mumps; Defective Interferin Particles; Genome

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