ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIGENIC VARIANTS OF MURINE RETROVIRUSES

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIGENIC VARIANTS OF MURINE RETROVIRUSES

Diss Abstr Int [B]; 51(1):140 1990. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/90667085
Pozsgay JM; Univ. of Pennsylvania

Abstract: The data presented in this thesis have focused on the isolation and characterization of variant viruses of a murine leukemia virus that exhibit changes in antigenicity following in vivo passage in adult immunocompetent hosts. Although antigenic variation has been described in other species, the results described in this thesis are the first to demonstrate consistent antigenic changes among murine retroviruses. The murine retrovirus system offers the opportunity to analyze the genetic basis for immunoselection of variant viruses. The availability of inbred and congenic strains of mice will allow the role of both major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked and non MHC-linked genes to be examined. Inoculation of adult BALB/c-H-2k (BALB/K) mice with both Gross murine leukemia virus (GV) and biological clones derived from this virus resulted in the recovery of variant viruses which differ from GV with respect to the expression of specific epitopes associated with the env gene product, gp70. The loss of these epitopes correlated with the failure of antiserum raised in BALB.K mice against GV to neutralize variant virus although this antiserum neutralized GV. In contrast, BALB/c-H-2b (BALB/B) mice, immunized with GV, produced antibodies which neutralized both GV and the variant virus, indicating that BALB/B mice respond to epitopes distinct from those recognized by BALB/K mice. These results suggest that the selection of variant viruses resulting from in vivo passage may be related to the immunoselective pressures exerted in mice which express particular alleles of certain MHC-linked genes. (Full text available from University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, as Order No. AAD90-15152)

Keywords: Animal Antigens, Viral/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY Epitopes/*ANALYSIS Gene Products, env/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY Gross Virus/*GENETICS Major Histocompatibility Complex/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Neutralization Tests THESIS
910228
M9120714

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