Mechanisms of Bunyavirus Virulence: A Genetic Approach.
Abstract
The construction and characterization of hybridomas making monoclonal antibodies against La Crosse and Tahyna viruses is described. These antibodies have been characterized by the following test. These antibodies have been shown to be useful tools for the classification of new viral isolates and for the phenotyping of reassortant viruses. They have been used to select variant viruses which can escape neutralization. An epitope map has been constructed which shows that there are a series of overlapping epitope clusters within a single antigenic site. A preliminary survey has been conducted of the protective ability of these antibodies in mice. The virulence of California serogroup viruses is being studied by genetic analysis. (a) Two parent viruses have been selected to represent a virulent prototype (La Crosse original) and an avirulent prototype (Tahyna 181/57). (b) The pathogenesis of these two viruses has been studied by infection of suckling mice, and it has been found that the neuroinvasive virulent virus replicates well in striated muscle with subsequent viremia, while the avirulent virus does not. (c) Reassortants have been constructed from these two parents and have been genotyped. Virulence is under polygenic control, such that the M RNA segment is the major determinant while the other two segments modulate virulence on certain genetic backgrounds. (d) Variant viruses have been tested for their neuoinvasiveness in mice. Variants at one epitope site exhibit reduced mouse virulence. Keywords: Bunyavirus; California encephalitis; Immunity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA177979
Entities
People
- Neal Nathanson
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania