Growth-Adaptive Mutations in the Ebola Virus Makona Glycoprotein Alter Different Steps in the Virus Entry Pathway
Abstract
Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) is the causative agent of the highly lethal Ebola virus disease and poses a significant threat to the global health community. Approved antivirals against EBOV are lacking; however, promising therapies targeting the EBOV glycoprotein are being developed. Efficacy testing of these candidate therapeutics relies on EBOV laboratory stocks, which when grown in tissue culture may acquire mutations in the glycoprotein. These mutations can produce inaccurate results in therapeutic testing. Until recently, distinguishing between tissue culture mutations and naturally occurring polymorphisms in EBOV GP was difficult in the absence of consensus clinical GP sequences. Here, we utilize recombinant VSV (rVSV) pseudotyped with the consensus clinical EBOV Makona GP to identify several mutations that have emerged or have potential to emerge in EBOV GP during tissue culture passage. Identifying these mutations informs the EBOV research community as to which mutations may arise during preparation of laboratory virus stocks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1128/jvi.00820-18
Entities
People
- Catherine E Arnold
- Gustavo Palacios
- John B. Ruedas
- John Connor
Organizations
- Boston University
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases