E and prM proteins of genotype V Japanese encephalitis virus are required for its increased virulence in mice. Issue 11 (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tajima, Shigeru; Shibasaki, Ken-ichi; Taniguchi, Satoshi; Nakayama, Eri; Maeki, Takahiro; Lim, Chang-Kweng; Saijo, Masayuki
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 5:Issue 11(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Genetics -- Microbiology -- Virology -- Japanese encephalitis virus -- Genotype V -- E protein -- prM protein -- Pathogenicity -- Reverse genetics -- Infectious cDNA clone; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: We previously showed that the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype V (GV) strain Muar exhibits significantly higher virulence in mice than the genotype I (GI) JEV strain Mie/41/2002. In this study, we attempted to identify the region responsible for the increased virulence of GV JEV using recombinant intertypic and single mutant JEVs. Intertypic viruses containing the GV E region in the Mie/41/2002 backbone showed increased pathogenicity in mice. The amino acid at position 123 in the E protein (E123) of the Mie/41/2002 and GV JEVs was serine and histidine, respectively. A serine-to-histidine substitution at E123 of the Mie/41/2002 increased its virulence. However, histidine-to-serine changes at E123 in the intertypic mutants with the GV E region remained highly virulent. GV Muar prM-bearing mutants were also highly pathogenic in mice. Our results suggest that the E and prM proteins of GV JEV are responsible for the highly virulent characteristics of GV JEV. Abstract : Genetics; Microbiology; Virology; Japanese encephalitis virus; Genotype V; E protein; prM protein; Pathogenicity; Reverse genetics; Infectious cDNA clone