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Mechanisms of cellular resistance of Borna disease virus-infected cells to superinfection

Description of the project:
Borna disease virus (BDV) persistently infects the central nervous system (CNS) and cell cultures. Earlier experiments revealed a resistance of BDV-infected cells to superinfection with BDV. However, the mechanisms leading to this resistance are not known. In a first step we want to investigate whether the resistance to superinfection is due to reduced binding of virus particles and whether the viral glycoprotein can mediate this effect. However, it is also possible that components of the viral capsid are actively involved in the inhibition of a productive replication of the incoming virus. We want to test the effect of these proteins on viral replication with the help of stable cell lines expressing the individual capsid proteins under an inducible promoter. Furthermore, co-cultivation experiments using different BDV strains should answer the question whether cell to cell spread is also blocked by BDV. Identification of the viral protein(s) involved in intracellular immunity against BDV may yield new strategies to prevent persistent virus infection in the CNS.

Additional information: http://www.UKL.uni-freiburg.de
contact person: Prof. Dr. Peter Staeheli
Phone: (0761) 203.6579
Email: staeheli@UKL.uni-freiburg.de
Runtime:
Start of project: 01.09.2000
End of project: 31.08.2003
Project Management:
Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg
Schwemmle Martin, Staeheli Peter
Department für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene
Institut für Virologie
Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11
79104 Freiburg
Germany

Phone: +49 761 203 6534
Fax: +49 761 203 6626
http://www.virologie.uniklinik-freiburg.de
Actual Research Report
Financing:
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG
Keywords:
    Borna Disease Virusinfektion
project-related publications:
  • Formella S., Jehle C., Sauder C., Staeheli P., Schwemmle M.: Sequence variability of Borna disease virus: resistance to superinfection may contribute to high genome stability in persistently infected cells. J Virol, 2000; 74: 7878-7883.