Abstract

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a pathogenic pneumovirus and a major cause of acute respiratory infections in calves. Although different vaccines are available against BRSV, their efficiency remains limited, and no efficient and large-scale treatment exists. Here, we developed a new reverse genetics system for BRSV expressing the red fluorescent protein mCherry, based on a field strain isolated from a sick calf in Sweden. Although this recombinant fluorescent virus replicated slightly less efficiently compared to the wild type virus, both viruses were shown to be sensitive to the natural steroidal alkaloid cyclopamine, which was previously shown to inhibit human RSV replication. Our data thus point to the potential of this recombinant fluorescent BRSV as a powerful tool in preclinical drug discovery to enable high throughput compound screening.

Keywords

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus; mCherry reverse genetics; antiviral drugs; cyclopamine

Published in

Veterinary Research
2023, Volume: 54, number: 1, article number: 36
Publisher: BMC

SLU Authors

• Näslund, Katarina

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

• Hägglund, Sara

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Valarcher, Jean-Francois

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Pathobiology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-023-01165-x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122198