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Genetic susceptibility to respiratory syncytial virus infection in inbred mice
Author(s) -
Stark James M.,
McDowell Susan A.,
Koenigsknecht Vincent,
Prows Daniel R.,
Leikauf John E.,
Le Vine Ann Marie,
Leikauf George D.
Publication year - 2002
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.2196
Subject(s) - biology , virology , titer , inbred strain , virus , backcrossing , gene , pneumovirinae , genetics , immunology , paramyxoviridae , viral disease
Differences in the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)‐induced lower respiratory disease in infants have been attributed to multiple environmental and genetic factors. To identify the genetic factor(s) influencing RSV susceptibility, we examined RSV infection in eight inbred mouse strains. Lung RSV titers differed significantly between mouse strains: the RSV titers were 15‐fold higher in AKR/J (permissive) mice compared with C57BL/6J (resistant) mice at 4 days after inoculation. This strain‐specific difference in RSV titers suggested that susceptibility to RSV infection was attributable to genetic differences between strains. To examine the mode of inheritance of RSV susceptibility, F 1 and backcross (F 1 × AKR/J) progeny were infected and RSV titers determined. RSV titers in the F 1 progeny were similar to those found in the resistant (C57BL/6J) parent, suggesting resistance was inherited as a dominant trait. The distribution of RSV titers in backcross progeny were discordant with that predicted for a single gene effect, suggesting susceptibility was influenced by more than one gene. These data suggest that RSV susceptibility is a multigenic trait that should be amenable to resolution by genomic analysis. J. Med. Virol. 67:92–100, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.