Name: highly sensitive assay for measurement of arenavirus-cell attachment
Uploaded: 2016-03-02T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Highly Sensitive Assay for Measurement of Arenavirus-cell Attachment at JoVE.com

We thank Markus Thali, Nathan Roy, Christopher Ziegler, Emily Bruce, and Benjamin King for helpful discussions and the National Institutes of Health for support of these studies through grants T32 AI055402 (JK), R21 AI088059 (JB), and P20RR021905 (JB).

Note: It is critical that the described protocol be carried out using strict pre-PCR technique (see 28 for an excellent overview on how to set up a pre-PCR laboratory and how to conduct experiments using good pre-PCR technique). It is imperative that all reagents and equipment are free of amplified DNA containing the qPCR target sequence and that appropriate controls are in place to detect such contamination. An overview of the protocol is shown in Figure 1.
1. Prepare Media and Seed Cell...

<ol>
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J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sequence+heterogeneity+in+the+termini+of+lymphocytic+choriomeningitis+virus+genomic+and+antigenomic+RNAs.">Sequence heterogeneity in the termini of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus genomic and antigenomic RNAs.</a> J. Virol. 68, 7659-7664 (1994).</li><li>Haist, K., Ziegler, C., Botten, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strand-Specific+Quantitative+Reverse+Transcription-Polymerase+Chain+Reaction+Assay+for+Measurement+of+Arenavirus+Genomic+and+Antigenomic+RNAs.">Strand-Specific Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Measurement of Arenavirus Genomic and Antigenomic RNAs.</a> PLoS One. 10, e0120043 (2015).</li><li>Radoshitzky, S. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transferrin+receptor+1+is+a+cellular+receptor+for+New+World+haemorrhagic+fever+arenaviruses.">Transferrin receptor 1 is a cellular receptor for New World haemorrhagic fever arenaviruses.</a> Nature. 446, 92-96 (2007).</li><li>Martinez, M. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Utilization+of+human+DC-SIGN+and+L-SIGN+for+entry+and+infection+of+host+cells+by+the+New+World+arenavirus,+Junin+virus.">Utilization of human DC-SIGN and L-SIGN for entry and infection of host cells by the New World arenavirus, Junin virus.</a> Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 441, 612-617 (2013).</li><li>Martinez, M. G., Cordo, S. M., Candurra, N. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+Junin+arenavirus+cell+entry.">Characterization of Junin arenavirus cell entry.</a> J. Gen. Virol. 88, 1776-1784 (2007).</li><li>Martinez, M. G., Forlenza, M. B., Candurra, N. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Involvement+of+cellular+proteins+in+Junin+arenavirus+entry.">Involvement of cellular proteins in Junin arenavirus entry.</a> Biotechnol J. 4, 866-870 (2009).</li><li>Nunberg, J. H., York, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Curious+Case+of+Arenavirus+Entry,+and+Its+Inhibition.">The Curious Case of Arenavirus Entry, and Its Inhibition.</a> Viruses. 4, 83-101 (2012).</li><li>Botten, J., King, B., Klaus, J., Zielger, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. , 233-260 (2013).</li><li>Klaus, J. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+intracellular+cargo+receptor+ERGIC-53+is+required+for+the+production+of+infectious+arenavirus,+coronavirus,+and+filovirus+particles.">The intracellular cargo receptor ERGIC-53 is required for the production of infectious arenavirus, coronavirus, and filovirus particles.</a> Cell Host Microbe. 14, 522-534 (2013).</li><li>Rojek, J. M., Perez, M., Kunz, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+entry+of+lymphocytic+choriomeningitis+virus.">Cellular entry of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.</a> J. Virol. 82, 1505-1517 (2008).</li><li>Lavanya, M., Cuevas, C. D., Thomas, M., Cherry, S., Ross, S. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=siRNA+screen+for+genes+that+affect+Junin+virus+entry+uncovers+voltage-gated+calcium+channels+as+a+therapeutic+target.">siRNA screen for genes that affect Junin virus entry uncovers voltage-gated calcium channels as a therapeutic target.</a> Sci Transl Med. 5, 204ra131 (2013).</li><li>Ellenberg, P., Edreira, M., Scolaro, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Resistance+to+superinfection+of+Vero+cells+persistently+infected+with+Junin+virus.">Resistance to superinfection of Vero cells persistently infected with Junin virus.</a> Arch. Virol. 149, 507-522 (2004).</li><li>Brandenburg, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+poliovirus+entry+in+live+cells.">Imaging poliovirus entry in live cells.</a> PLoS Biol. 5, e183 (2007).</li><li>Petersen, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Major+Cellular+Sterol+Regulatory+Pathway+Is+Required+for+Andes+Virus+Infection.">The Major Cellular Sterol Regulatory Pathway Is Required for Andes Virus Infection.</a> PLoS pathogens. 10, e1003911 (2014).</li><li>Jonsson, N., Gullberg, M., Israelsson, S., Lindberg, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+rapid+and+efficient+method+for+studies+of+virus+interaction+at+the+host+cell+surface+using+enteroviruses+and+real-time+PCR.">A rapid and efficient method for studies of virus interaction at the host cell surface using enteroviruses and real-time PCR.</a> Virol J. 6, 217 (2009).</li><li>Jiang, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatitis+C+virus+attachment+mediated+by+apolipoprotein+E+binding+to+cell+surface+heparan+sulfate.">Hepatitis C virus attachment mediated by apolipoprotein E binding to cell surface heparan sulfate.</a> J. Virol. 86, 7256-7267 (2012).</li><li>Shannon-Lowe, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epstein-Barr+virus-induced+B-cell+transformation:+quantitating+events+from+virus+binding+to+cell+outgrowth.">Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell transformation: quantitating events from virus binding to cell outgrowth.</a> J. Gen. Virol. 86, 3009-3019 (2005).</li><li>Mifflin, T. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Setting+up+a+PCR+laboratory.">Setting up a PCR laboratory.</a> CSH Protoc. 2007, pdb top14 (2007).</li><li>Maiztegui, J. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protective+efficacy+of+a+live+attenuated+vaccine+against+Argentine+hemorrhagic+fever.+AHF+Study+Group.">Protective efficacy of a live attenuated vaccine against Argentine hemorrhagic fever. AHF Study Group.</a> J. Infect. Dis. 177, 277-283 (1998).</li><li>Goni, S. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genomic+features+of+attenuated+Junin+virus+vaccine+strain+candidate.">Genomic features of attenuated Junin virus vaccine strain candidate.</a> Virus Genes. 32, 37-41 (2006).</li><li>Chosewood, L. C., Wilson, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories. , (2009).</li><li>White, J., Matlin, K., Helenius, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+fusion+by+Semliki+Forest,+influenza,+and+vesicular+stomatitis+viruses.">Cell fusion by Semliki Forest, influenza, and vesicular stomatitis viruses.</a> J. Cell Biol. 89, 674-679 (1981).</li><li>McGraw, T. E., Greenfield, L., Maxfield, F. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+expression+of+the+human+transferrin+receptor+cDNA+in+Chinese+hamster+ovary+cells+deficient+in+endogenous+transferrin+receptor.">Functional expression of the human transferrin receptor cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in endogenous transferrin receptor.</a> J. Cell Biol. 105, 207-214 (1987).</li><li>Borrow, P., Oldstone, M. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+lymphocytic+choriomeningitis+virus-binding+protein(s):+a+candidate+cellular+receptor+for+the+virus.">Characterization of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-binding protein(s): a candidate cellular receptor for the virus.</a> J. Virol. 66, 7270-7281 (1992).</li><li>Rojek, J. M., Spiropoulou, C. F., Kunz, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+the+cellular+receptors+for+the+South+American+hemorrhagic+fever+viruses+Junin,+Guanarito,+and+Machupo.">Characterization of the cellular receptors for the South American hemorrhagic fever viruses Junin, Guanarito, and Machupo.</a> 346. , 476-491 (2006).</li><li>Helguera, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+antibody+recognizing+the+apical+domain+of+human+transferrin+receptor+1+efficiently+inhibits+the+entry+of+all+new+world+hemorrhagic+Fever+arenaviruses.">An antibody recognizing the apical domain of human transferrin receptor 1 efficiently inhibits the entry of all new world hemorrhagic Fever arenaviruses.</a> J. Virol. 86, 4024-4028 (2012).</li><li>Sanchez, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Junin+virus+monoclonal+antibodies:+characterization+and+cross-reactivity+with+other+arenaviruses.">Junin virus monoclonal antibodies: characterization and cross-reactivity with other arenaviruses.</a> J. Gen. Virol. 70, 1125-1132 (1989).</li><li>Trombley, A. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+panel+of+real-time+TaqMan+polymerase+chain+reaction+assays+for+detection+and+absolute+quantification+of+filoviruses,+arenaviruses,+and+New+World+hantaviruses.">Comprehensive panel of real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assays for detection and absolute quantification of filoviruses, arenaviruses, and New World hantaviruses.</a> Am. J. Trop. Med. 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The protocol we describe is straightforward and robust provided the following critical considerations are observed. First, strict pre-PCR technique must be employed (see 28 for an excellent review). It is imperative that all reagents and equipment are free of amplified DNA containing the qPCR target sequence and that appropriate controls are in place to detect such contamination. Second, for the virus-cell attachment portion of the protocol, the virus, cells, and media must be kept at 4&#160;&#176;C to prevent...

Arenaviruses are a family of enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that are maintained primarily in rodents in nature1-3. While these viruses typically establish an asymptomatic, persistent infection in rodent reservoirs1,2, they can cause severe disease in humans3. Important pathogenic species include the New World Junin virus (JUNV)4 and the Old World Lassa virus5, which are the etiologic agents of Argentine hemorrhagic fever in South America and Lassa fever in Africa, respectively. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the prototypic virus of the family6, has a worldwide distribution and is responsible for a variety of disease states including aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals6, severe birth defects in the developing fetus7, or high lethality in immunosuppressed individuals following solid-organ transplantation8,9. The lack of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines or effective antivirals to combat these viruses highlights the critical need to develop novel strategies to therapeutically target these emerging/re-emerging pathogens.
The arenavirus genome consists of two single-stranded RNA segments, the large (L) (~7.2 kb) and small (S) (~3.6 kb) segments10. The S segment encodes the viral nucleoprotein (NP) and envelope glycoprotein (GP) while the L segment encodes the viral polymerase (L) and matrix protein (Z). The L and S genomic RNA segments (vRNAs) are packaged into virions10-12. The initial step of arenavirus infection is attachment of viral particles to host cells through an interaction between the viral GP and its corresponding host cell receptors which, for JUNV, includes the human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1)13,14. Following attachment, JUNV particles are taken into the cell via clathrin-mediated endocytosis15. Particles then traffic to the late endosome where the low pH of this compartment triggers the activation of GP16,17. Once activated, the GP-encoded fusion peptide inserts into the endosomal membrane, initiating fusion between the viral and endosomal membranes. Successful fusion results in the release of the virion-packaged vRNAs into the cytoplasm, where they serve as templates for genomic replication and transcription. When sufficient quantities of viral structural proteins and vRNAs are generated, new particles assemble and bud from the infected cell to complete the life cycle18.
To facilitate the discovery of new strategies to therapeutically target the pathogenic arenaviruses, our group has focused on the identification of host factors that are critical for virus propagation, but dispensable for the host. In this context, defining the precise stage(s) of the viral life cycle controlled by such host factors is necessary to guide the development of antiviral strategies. Herein, we describe a quantitative (q)RT-PCR-based assay that can be used to measure arenavirus-cell attachment for the purpose of identifying whether selected host proteins and/or antiviral molecules influence this initial stage of viral entry19. Alternative approaches to measure arenavirus-cell attachment have featured virions labeled with biotin20, fluorescent dyes21, or radioactive isotopes22. Drawbacks to these methods can include the requirement for large quantities of input virus (e.g. high multiplicities of infection (MOI)), the use of radioactivity, and/or additional handling steps to prepare input virus (e.g. concentration and/or labeling of virus). In particular, the use of high MOI makes it difficult to distinguish productive versus nonproductive attachment events15,23. The qRT-PCR-based assay described here can detect attachment events using as few as 20 plaque forming units (PFUs) of virus, which translates into an MOI of 0.0004 for a 48-well plate. Therefore, the strong sensitivity of the assay overcomes the requirement for high MOI as well as any virus labeling or concentration steps. Further, the assay can be i) adapted to measure virion endocytosis as well as release of virus genome into the cytoplasm following fusion and ii) tailored for use with other viruses through the development of virus-specific qRT-PCR reagents (for examples, see 24-27).

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="730">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">11965-118</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">15140-163</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">100x</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">HEPES Buffer Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">15630-130</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">100x</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">PBS pH 7.4</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">10010-023</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1x</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">Vero E6 cells</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">American Type Culture Collection</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">CRL-1586</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">Costar 48-well plate</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">3548</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">RNeasy mini kit</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Qiagen</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">74106</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">do not mix buffers RLT or&#160; RW1 with bleach</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">QIAshredder homogenizer</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Qiagen</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">79654</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">Taqman Universal PCR Master Mix</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4326614</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">Multiscribe Reverse Transcriptase (50U/&#181;l)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4311235</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">dNTP Mixture (10 mM; 2.5 mM each dNTP)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">N808-0260</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">GeneAmp 10X PCR Buffer II and 25 mM MgCl2 solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">N808-0010</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:299px;">RNase Inhibitor (5000U/100 &#181;l)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">N808-0119</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">RT primer 5&#8217;-AAGGGTTTAAAAATGGTAGCAGAC-3&#8217;</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Integrated DNA Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">250 nmol DNA oligo</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">standard desalting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">Forward qPCR primer&#160; 5&#8217;-CATGGAGGTCAAACAACTTCCT-3&#8217;</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4304971</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">standard desalting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">Reverse qPCR primer 5&#8217;-GCCTCCAGACATGGTTGTGA-3&#8217;</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4304971</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">standard desalting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">TaqMan Probe 5&#8217;-6FAM-ATGTCATCGGATCCTT-MGBNFQ-3&#8217;</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4316033</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">HPLC purified</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">MicroAmp Fast Optical 96-well reaction plate (0.1 mL)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4346906</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:299px;">StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR System</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:141px;">4376598</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">or other qPCR instrument</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

highly sensitive assay for measurement of arenavirus-cell attachment

Arenaviruses are a family of enveloped RNA viruses that cause severe human disease. The first step in the arenavirus life cycle is attachment of viral particles to host cells. While virus-cell attachment can be measured through the use of virions labeled with biotin, radioactive isotopes, or fluorescent dyes, these approaches typically require high multiplicities of infection (MOI) to enable detection of bound virus. We describe a quantitative (q)RT-PCR-based assay that measures Junin virus strain Candid 1 attachment via quantitation of virion-packaged viral genomic RNA. This assay has several advantages including its extreme sensitivity and ability to measure attachment over a large dynamic range of MOIs without the need to purify or label input virus. Importantly, this approach can be easily tailored for use with other viruses through the use of virus-specific qRT-PCR reagents. Further, this assay can be modified to permit measurement of particle endocytosis and genome uncoating. In conclusion, we describe a simple, yet robust assay for highly sensitive measurement of arenavirus-cell attachment.

To demonstrate the sensitivity and dynamic range of the qPCR assay, known quantities of a plasmid encoding the NP gene of JUNV C#1 (range 5-5 x 107 copies) were subjected to qPCR as described in Section 4 of the protocol. The assay is sensitive and can reliably detect as few as 5 copies of the target nucleic acid (Figure 2). Further, the dynamic range of the assay is large and, as shown in Figure 2, can cover at least 7 logs of template. While ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Highly Sensitive Assay for Measurement of Arenavirus-cell Attachment at JoVE.com

Highly Sensitive Assay for Measurement of Arenavirus-cell Attachment

The first step in the arenavirus life cycle is attachment of viral particles to host cells. We report a quantitative (q)RT-PCR-based assay for ultrasensitive detection and quantitation of arenavirus attachment events.

Arenaviruses are a family of enveloped RNA viruses that cause severe human disease. The first step in the arenavirus life cycle is attachment of viral ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

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