Research on the molecular basis for virulence expression in mumps virus

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591592
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: KIDOKORO MINORU 国立感染症研究所, ウイルス第三部第三室, 室長 (00370958)
• Research Collaborator: KATOH Hiroshi 国立感染症研究所, ウイルス第三部第三室, 研究員 (80711712)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ムンプスウイルス / 中枢神経病原性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through genetic analyses of the revertant mumps virus (MuV), we revealed that the main cause of the reversion is the mutation in the V/P gene. Meanwhile,introducing the mutation of the L gene of the highly virulent strain has enhanced the neurovirulence of an attenuated MuV. In addition, the MuV isolates from vaccinal horizontal transmission cases habor the characteristic mutations in their L genes. And their neurovirulence were enhanced comparing with the original vaccine viruses. In order to assess the involvement of L gene in MuV neurovirulence, we constructed recombinant MuV (rOdate/miR) which has the L gene harboring the complement sequences of the miRNA expressed specifically in central nerve system. As the result, rOdate/miR exhibited little neurovirulence.
These results strongly suggested that the main causative genes for MuV neurovirulence are V/P and L genes.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学