An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection
The use of selectable markers (ecogpt) and selection pressures to aid in detection of poxvirus (Vaccinia, VV) recombinants has been implicated in the unintended introduction of second site mutations. We have reinvestigated the use of the helper virus system described by Scheiflinger et al. [1] and a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2011-03-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/3/217/ |
| _version_ | 1818956724009172992 |
|---|---|
| author | Stacey A. Gray Yu Li Richard W. Moyer Inger Damon Amanda D. Rice |
| author_facet | Stacey A. Gray Yu Li Richard W. Moyer Inger Damon Amanda D. Rice |
| author_sort | Stacey A. Gray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of selectable markers (ecogpt) and selection pressures to aid in detection of poxvirus (Vaccinia, VV) recombinants has been implicated in the unintended introduction of second site mutations. We have reinvestigated the use of the helper virus system described by Scheiflinger et al. [1] and adapted by Yao and Evans [2] which produces recombinants at a high frequency in the absence of any selection, at a rate of 6–100%. Our system uses fowlpox virus (FPV) as the infectious helper virus which in infected cells provides the enzymatic apparatus for transcription and replication of a purified, transfected VV genome and for recombination with a second transfected PCR generated DNA fragment. To optimize the system, a PCR DNA fragment was generated that contained poxvirus promoter driven gfp and lacZ genes inserted within the coding sequences of the viral thymidine kinase gene. This PCR fragment was co-transfected together with VV genomic DNA. Recombinant VV was identified by plaquing the mixture on cells non-permissive for FPV and selection of green fluorescent or LacZ positive recombinant vaccinia plaques. The system was optimized using FPV permissive cells (CEF) and non-permissive cells (A549, CV-1) for both the initial infection/transfection and the subsequent selection. Up to 70% of the progeny vaccinia virus contained the gfp/LacZ insertion. In order to test for the presence of FPV/VV intertypic recombinants or other unintended mutations, recombinant wtVV (RwtVV) was regenerated from the gfp/LacZ viruses and evaluated by RFLP analysis and pathogenesis in animals. While all RwtVVs were viable in cell culture, in many of the RwtVV isolates, RFLP differences were noted and while some recombinant viruses exhibited wild type behavior in mice, a wide range of virulence indicative of unintended changes suggests that mutants created by “rescue” systems require careful analysis particularly before use for in vivo studies employing animal models. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:58:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a629133ef60f45c19461e9e0524dc43c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:58:30Z |
| publishDate | 2011-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-a629133ef60f45c19461e9e0524dc43c2022-12-21T19:43:06ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152011-03-013321723210.3390/v3030217An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of SelectionStacey A. GrayYu LiRichard W. MoyerInger DamonAmanda D. RiceThe use of selectable markers (ecogpt) and selection pressures to aid in detection of poxvirus (Vaccinia, VV) recombinants has been implicated in the unintended introduction of second site mutations. We have reinvestigated the use of the helper virus system described by Scheiflinger et al. [1] and adapted by Yao and Evans [2] which produces recombinants at a high frequency in the absence of any selection, at a rate of 6–100%. Our system uses fowlpox virus (FPV) as the infectious helper virus which in infected cells provides the enzymatic apparatus for transcription and replication of a purified, transfected VV genome and for recombination with a second transfected PCR generated DNA fragment. To optimize the system, a PCR DNA fragment was generated that contained poxvirus promoter driven gfp and lacZ genes inserted within the coding sequences of the viral thymidine kinase gene. This PCR fragment was co-transfected together with VV genomic DNA. Recombinant VV was identified by plaquing the mixture on cells non-permissive for FPV and selection of green fluorescent or LacZ positive recombinant vaccinia plaques. The system was optimized using FPV permissive cells (CEF) and non-permissive cells (A549, CV-1) for both the initial infection/transfection and the subsequent selection. Up to 70% of the progeny vaccinia virus contained the gfp/LacZ insertion. In order to test for the presence of FPV/VV intertypic recombinants or other unintended mutations, recombinant wtVV (RwtVV) was regenerated from the gfp/LacZ viruses and evaluated by RFLP analysis and pathogenesis in animals. While all RwtVVs were viable in cell culture, in many of the RwtVV isolates, RFLP differences were noted and while some recombinant viruses exhibited wild type behavior in mice, a wide range of virulence indicative of unintended changes suggests that mutants created by “rescue” systems require careful analysis particularly before use for in vivo studies employing animal models.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/3/217/poxvirusrecombinantvaccinia virushelper virusfowlpox virus |
| spellingShingle | Stacey A. Gray Yu Li Richard W. Moyer Inger Damon Amanda D. Rice An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection Viruses poxvirus recombinant vaccinia virus helper virus fowlpox virus |
| title | An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection |
| title_full | An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection |
| title_fullStr | An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection |
| title_short | An Efficient Method for Generating Poxvirus Recombinants in the Absence of Selection |
| title_sort | efficient method for generating poxvirus recombinants in the absence of selection |
| topic | poxvirus recombinant vaccinia virus helper virus fowlpox virus |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/3/217/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT staceyagray anefficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT yuli anefficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT richardwmoyer anefficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT ingerdamon anefficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT amandadrice anefficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT staceyagray efficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT yuli efficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT richardwmoyer efficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT ingerdamon efficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection AT amandadrice efficientmethodforgeneratingpoxvirusrecombinantsintheabsenceofselection |