Molecular Characterization of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus Strain DF-2 and Studies of the Role of ORF3abc in Viral Cell Tropism

Abstract

The full-length genome of the highly lethal feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) strain DF-2 was sequenced and cloned into a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) to study the role of ORF3abc in the FIPV-feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) transition. The reverse genetic system allowed the replacement of the truncated ORF3abc of the original FIPV DF-2 genome with the intact ORF3abc of the canine coronavirus (CCoV) reference strain Elmo/02. The in vitro replication kinetics of these two viruses was studied in CrFK and FCWF-4 cell lines, as well as in feline peripheral blood monocytes. Both viruses showed similar replication kinetics in established cell lines. However, the strain with a full-length ORF3 showed markedly lower replication of more than 2 log(10) titers in feline peripheral blood monocytes. Our results suggest that the truncated ORF3abc plays an important role in the efficient macrophage/monocyte tropism of type II FIPV.

Published in

Journal of Virology
2012, volume: 86, number: 11, pages: 6258-6267
Publisher: AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY

SLU Authors

• Balint, Adam

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate

• Zadori, Zoltan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Hungarian Academy of Sciences

• Belak, Sandor

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Veterinary Institute (SVA)

UKÄ Subject classification

Cell and Molecular Biology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00189-12

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/45565