Synthesis and expression of viral antigens in Vero cells persistently infected with Junin virus

P. ELLENBERG, M. EDREIRA, M. LOZANO, L. SCOLARO

ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY

Año: 2002 vol. 147 p. 1543 - 1557

0304-8608

Summary. Two Vero cell lines persistently infected with XJCl3 and Cl67 strainsof Junin virus and named V3 and V7, respectively, have been characterizedwith respect to the presence and expression of the nucleoprotein (N) and theglycoprotein precursor (GPC) viral genes.After the acute phase of infection, wherea marked CPE and high titers of virus were obtained, JV persistently infected cellsbecame morphologically undistinguishable from Vero cells and virus productiondropped to undetectable levels. V3 and V7 were resistant to the superinfectionwith antigenically related viruses. This fact could not be attributed to the presenceof defective interfering particles or non-infectious virus in the supernatant.Expression of N was consistently detected in both cultures and accumulation oftwo degradation products of N was evident during the late passages. Althoughno G1 (main surface glycoprotein) expression was observed, a marked fusogeniccapacity was detected in both cultures indicating at least, the synthesis of a GPCderived fusogenic glycoprotein. Cell lysates fromV3 andV7 subjected toRT-PCR,using specific primers for N gene, or to a nested RT-PCR using specific primersfor GPC (G1 region) confirmed the presence of both viral genes. No viral DNAsequences could be detected in JV persistently infected cells.