Akabane virus nonstructural protein NSm regulates viral growth and pathogenicity in a mouse model

• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0140
• Publication Date: 2016-05-15T22:08:22Z
• Authors: Yukari ISHIHARA; Chieko SHIODA; Norasuthi BANGPHOOMI; Keita SUGIURA; Kohei SAEKI; Shumpei TSUDA; Tatsuya IWANAGA; Akiko TAKENAKA-UEMA; Kentaro KATO; Shin MURAKAMI; Kazuyuki UCHIDA; Hiroomi AKASHI; Taisuke HORIMOTO
• Keywords: Infectivity; Reverse Genetics

The biological function of a nonstructural protein, NSm, Akabane virus (AKAV) is unknown. In this study, we generated series NSm deletion mutant viruses by reverse genetics and compared their phenotypes. in which the coding region was almost completely deleted could not be rescued, suggesting that plays role replication. We next possessing various partial deletions identified several regions critical for infectivity. All rescued produced smaller plaques grew inefficiently cell culture, to wild-type virus. Interestingly, although pathogenicity varied mice depending on sizes, more than half died following infection with any dead exhibited encephalitis as virus-inoculated mice, indicating neuroinvasiveness. Abundant viral antigens were detected brain tissues whereas appreciable antigen observed those surviving correlation between growth rate neuropathogenicity mice. conclude affects AKAV replication vitro well vivo it may virulence factor.