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Isolation and characterisation of a defective measles virus from a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patient
Author(s) -
Wild T. F.,
Giraudon P.,
Bernard A.,
Huppert J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890040205
Subject(s) - subacute sclerosing panencephalitis , vero cell , measles virus , virology , virus , cytopathic effect , biology , morbillivirus , infectivity , paramyxoviridae , virus quantification , measles , inclusion bodies , viral culture , viral disease , vaccination , escherichia coli , gene , biochemistry
A cytopathic measles virus was isolated from a brain biopsy of a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) patient. The agent could be transferred to Vero cells by cocultivation, but the infectivity always remained cell‐associated — ie, a defective virus infection. The cell‐associated nature of the virus was retained through 25 passages in Vero cells. Intracerebral inoculation of hamsters (2—6 days old) with the cocultured Vero cells gave rise to 100% mortality in 5—7 days. The virus retained its cell‐associated nature after passage in hamsters. Electron microscopy of the brain and Vero cocultures showed the presence of virus‐like ribonucleoparticles mainly in the nucleus. The presence of viral antigens in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and on the plasma membranes was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Using a combination of immunological and biochemical technqiues, it was shown that all the viral proteins were synthesized with the exception of the haemagglutinin. Inclusion of the fusion inhibitor SV4814 (CBZ‐D phenylalanine‐L‐phenylalanine‐L‐arginine‐NO 2 ) in the culture medium led to the elimination of the SSPE infection.