Fulltext

Nipah Virus Matrix Protein Influences Fusogenicity and Is Essential for Particle Infectivity and Stability

Dietzel E 1 , Kolesnikova L 1 , Sawatsky B 2 , Heiner A 1 , Weis M 1 , Kobinger GP 3 Show all authors , Becker S 4 , von Messling V 5 , Maisner A 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
  • 2 INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, Laval, Quebec, Canada Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
  • 3 National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • 4 Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Germany
  • 5 INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, Laval, Quebec, Canada Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Germany
  • 6 Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany maisner@staff.uni-marburg.de
J Virol, 2016 Mar;90(5):2514-22.
PMID: 26676785 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02920-15

Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) causes fatal encephalitic infections in humans. To characterize the role of the matrix (M) protein in the viral life cycle, we generated a reverse genetics system based on NiV strain Malaysia. Using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-expressing M protein-deleted NiV, we observed a slightly increased cell-cell fusion, slow replication kinetics, and significantly reduced peak titers compared to the parental virus. While increased amounts of viral proteins were found in the supernatant of cells infected with M-deleted NiV, the infectivity-to-particle ratio was more than 100-fold reduced, and the particles were less thermostable and of more irregular morphology. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the M protein is not absolutely required for the production of cell-free NiV but is necessary for proper assembly and release of stable infectious NiV particles.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

MeSH terms
Similar publications