Abstract
BackgroundVirus rescue from transfected cells is an extremely useful technique that allows defined viral clones to be engineered for the purpose of rational vaccine design or fundamental reverse genetics studies. However, it is often hindered by low primary rescue success rates or yields, especially with field-derived viral strains.ApproachWe investigated the possibility of enhancing influenza virus rescue by eliciting cell fusion to increase the chances of having all necessary plasmids expressed within the same polykaryon. To this end we used the Maedi-Visna Virus envelope protein which has potent fusion activity in cells from a wide range of different species.ResultsCo-transfecting cells with the eight plasmids necessary to rescue influenza virus plus a plasmid expressing the Maedi-Visna Virus envelope protein resulted in increased rescue efficiency. In addition, partial complements of the 8-plasmid rescue system could be transfected into two separate populations of cells, which upon fusion led to live virus rescue.ConclusionThe simple modification described here has the potential to improve the efficiency of the virus rescue process and expand the potential applications for reverse genetic studies.
Highlights
Virus rescue from transfected cells is an extremely useful technique that allows defined viral clones to be engineered for the purpose of rational vaccine design or fundamental reverse genetics studies
Co-transfecting cells with the eight plasmids necessary to rescue influenza virus plus a plasmid expressing the Maedi-Visna Virus envelope protein resulted in increased rescue efficiency
The simple modification described here has the potential to improve the efficiency of the virus rescue process and expand the potential applications for reverse genetic studies
Summary
Virus rescue from transfected cells is an extremely useful technique that allows defined viral clones to be engineered for the purpose of rational vaccine design or fundamental reverse genetics studies. It is often hindered by low primary rescue success rates or yields, especially with field-derived viral strains. Approach: We investigated the possibility of enhancing influenza virus rescue by eliciting cell fusion to increase the chances of having all necessary plasmids expressed within the same polykaryon To this end we used the Maedi-Visna Virus envelope protein which has potent fusion activity in cells from a wide range of different species. The main approach to control influenza epidemics and pandemics in human and other animal populations is through vaccination (reviewed in [2]) and biosecurity, other approaches may help prevent the transmission of highly pathogenic influenza in some species [3]
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