Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ectromelia virus, a member of the Orthopox genus, is the causative agent of the highly infectious mousepox disease. Previous studies have shown that different poxviruses induce cell-cell fusion which is manifested by the formation of...

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Main Authors: Fuchs Pinhas, Schnider Paula, Israely Tomer, Politi Boaz, Maik-Rachline Galia, Paran Nir, Erez Noam, Melamed Sharon, Lustig Shlomo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-09-01
Series:Virology Journal
Online Access:http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/151
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spelling doaj-0fd531dbe781448e87426044730bedbd2020-11-24T21:32:57ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2009-09-016115110.1186/1743-422X-6-151Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complexFuchs PinhasSchnider PaulaIsraely TomerPoliti BoazMaik-Rachline GaliaParan NirErez NoamMelamed SharonLustig Shlomo<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ectromelia virus, a member of the Orthopox genus, is the causative agent of the highly infectious mousepox disease. Previous studies have shown that different poxviruses induce cell-cell fusion which is manifested by the formation of multinucleated-giant cells (polykaryocytes). This phenomenon has been widely studied with vaccinia virus in conditions which require artificial acidification of the medium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that Ectromelia virus induces cell-cell fusion under neutral pH conditions and requires the presence of a sufficient amount of viral particles on the plasma membrane of infected cells. This could be achieved by infection with a replicating virus and its propagation in infected cells (fusion "from within") or by infection with a high amount of virus particles per cell (fusion "from without"). Inhibition of virus maturation or inhibition of virus transport on microtubules towards the plasma membrane resulted in a complete inhibition of syncytia formation. We show that in contrast to vaccinia virus, Ectromelia virus induces cell-cell fusion irrespectively of its hemagglutination properties and cell-surface expression of the orthologs of the fusion inhibitory complex, A56 and K2. Additionally, cell-cell fusion was also detected in mice lungs following lethal respiratory infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Ectromelia virus induces spontaneous cell-cell fusion in-vitro and in-vivo although expressing an A56/K2 fusion inhibitory complex. This syncytia formation property cannot be attributed to the 37 amino acid deletion in ECTV A56.</p> http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/151
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Fuchs Pinhas
Schnider Paula
Israely Tomer
Politi Boaz
Maik-Rachline Galia
Paran Nir
Erez Noam
Melamed Sharon
Lustig Shlomo
spellingShingle Fuchs Pinhas
Schnider Paula
Israely Tomer
Politi Boaz
Maik-Rachline Galia
Paran Nir
Erez Noam
Melamed Sharon
Lustig Shlomo
Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
Virology Journal
author_facet Fuchs Pinhas
Schnider Paula
Israely Tomer
Politi Boaz
Maik-Rachline Galia
Paran Nir
Erez Noam
Melamed Sharon
Lustig Shlomo
author_sort Fuchs Pinhas
title Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
title_short Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
title_full Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
title_fullStr Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
title_full_unstemmed Induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
title_sort induction of cell-cell fusion by ectromelia virus is not inhibited by its fusion inhibitory complex
publisher BMC
series Virology Journal
issn 1743-422X
publishDate 2009-09-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ectromelia virus, a member of the Orthopox genus, is the causative agent of the highly infectious mousepox disease. Previous studies have shown that different poxviruses induce cell-cell fusion which is manifested by the formation of multinucleated-giant cells (polykaryocytes). This phenomenon has been widely studied with vaccinia virus in conditions which require artificial acidification of the medium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that Ectromelia virus induces cell-cell fusion under neutral pH conditions and requires the presence of a sufficient amount of viral particles on the plasma membrane of infected cells. This could be achieved by infection with a replicating virus and its propagation in infected cells (fusion "from within") or by infection with a high amount of virus particles per cell (fusion "from without"). Inhibition of virus maturation or inhibition of virus transport on microtubules towards the plasma membrane resulted in a complete inhibition of syncytia formation. We show that in contrast to vaccinia virus, Ectromelia virus induces cell-cell fusion irrespectively of its hemagglutination properties and cell-surface expression of the orthologs of the fusion inhibitory complex, A56 and K2. Additionally, cell-cell fusion was also detected in mice lungs following lethal respiratory infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Ectromelia virus induces spontaneous cell-cell fusion in-vitro and in-vivo although expressing an A56/K2 fusion inhibitory complex. This syncytia formation property cannot be attributed to the 37 amino acid deletion in ECTV A56.</p>
url http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/151
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