VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS CAPABLE OF NON-CYTOPATHIC REPLICATION: VIRUS PRODUCTION AND GROWTH IN CELLS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF RESISTANCE TO INFECTION

Abstract

The model alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) exhibits non-cytopathic replication in cell cultures. In this study, the ability of VEE to infect cells of different types was investigated. Non-cytopathic VEE was capable of a persistent infection in cultures of BHK-21 fibroblasts, HEK293T epithelial cells, and X63-Ag8.653 plasma cells, which all show varying abilities to suppress viral replication through an interferon (IFN)-dependent mechanism. The ability of VEE to infect a broad range of cell types and replicate without inducing cell death makes this virus an attractive vector for eukaryotic expression. In particular, persistent VEE infection was demonstrated in the myeloid cell line X63, which is capable of an IFN-induced antiviral state. This observation underscores the potential application of VEE-based vectors to drive recombinant protein expression in highly productive plasmacytoma cells.