Molecular model of accumulation of multiple mutations on the way of transition of a measles virus to a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591589
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: ITOH Masae 長浜バイオ大学, バイオサイエンス学部, 教授 (10201328)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HOTTA Hak 神戸大学, 大学院医学研究科, 教授 (40116249)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 麻疹ウイルス / SSPEウイルス / 神経病原性 / 細胞融合

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Analysis of the accumulated multiple mutations was performed on the genome of a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) virus Kobe-1 strain isolated from a 5-year-old patient 6 weeks after the disease onset with the aim to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying SSPE development. Virus cell-cell fusion ability was closely related with its neuropathogenicity, for which mutations not only on the F protein but also on the M protein were indispensable. Mutations on the H protein enhanced the pathogenicity. On the other hand we successfully identified some mutations on the F and H proteins that suppress virus cell-cell fusion and as a result restrict virus replication. These suppressive mutations were considered to be involved in the considerably long-time persistent infection of a measles virus in the brain of the patient before the measles virus acquires neuropathogenicity and becomes SSPE virus.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学