Effects of a point mutation in the 3 ' end of the S genome segment of naturally occurring and engineered Bunyamwera viruses

Kohl, A. , Bridgen, A., Dunn, E., Barr, J.N. and Elliott, R.M. (2003) Effects of a point mutation in the 3 ' end of the S genome segment of naturally occurring and engineered Bunyamwera viruses. Journal of General Virology, 84, pp. 789-793. (doi: 10.1099/vir.0.18963-0)

Abstract

The genome of Bunyamwera virus (BUN) consists of three segments of single-stranded RNA of negative polarity. The smallest segment, S, encodes the N protein and a nonstructural protein called NSs. We recently described a mutant virus (BUNdelNSs) that does not express NSs but overexpresses N and grows to lower titres than wild-type (wt) BUN. Here we report a BUNdelNSs variant that expresses lower levels of N protein and grows to higher titres. Sequencing of the 3′ and 5′ termini of the BUNdelNSs S RNA segment and analysis using a minireplicon system show that the N overexpressing phenotype results from a single nucleotide substitution at position 16 in the 3′ terminus. This mutation could also be detected in wtBUN populations, and was isolated by plaquing a ‘wt’ variant carrying the mutation. This variant was found to express increased N and NSs levels, and grew to lower titres than wtBUN.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kohl, Professor Alain
• Authors: Kohl, A., Bridgen, A., Dunn, E., Barr, J.N., and Elliott, R.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of General Virology
• Publisher: Society for General Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• ISSN (Online): 1465-2099