Name: rapid, seamless generation of recombinant poxviruses using host range and visual selection
Uploaded: 2020-05-24T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection at JoVE.com

This project was funded by the National Institutes of Health (AI114851) to SR.

1. Generating the recombination vector
<ol>
	<li>Design primers to generate the selection cassette. Design each individual amplicon with overlapping sequences with neighboring amplicons and the vector to facilitate isothermal enzymatic assembly of DNA molecules, also called Gibson assembly, using any of several online primer design tools. 
	NOTE: This protocol can also be completed using traditional restriction endonuclease-based cloning methods. In that case, design primers with the appropriate restriction sites ...

<ol>
	<li>Brochier, 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=Large-scale+eradication+of+rabies+using+recombinant+vaccinia-rabies+vaccine.">Large-scale eradication of rabies using recombinant vaccinia-rabies vaccine.</a> Nature. 354 (6354), 520-522 (1991).</li><li>Pastoret, P. P., Brochier, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+development+and+use+of+a+vaccinia-rabies+recombinant+oral+vaccine+for+the+control+of+wildlife+rabies;+a+link+between+Jenner+and+Pasteur.">The development and use of a vaccinia-rabies recombinant oral vaccine for the control of wildlife rabies; a link between Jenner and Pasteur.</a> Epidemiology and Infection. 116 (3), 235-240 (1996).</li><li>Chan, W. M., McFadden, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oncolytic+Poxviruses.">Oncolytic Poxviruses.</a> Annual review of virology. 1 (1), 119-141 (2014).</li><li>Nguyen, D. H., 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=Vaccinia+virus-mediated+expression+of+human+erythropoietin+in+tumors+enhances+virotherapy+and+alleviates+cancer-related+anemia+in+mice.">Vaccinia virus-mediated expression of human erythropoietin in tumors enhances virotherapy and alleviates cancer-related anemia in mice.</a> Molecular Therapy. 21 (11), 2054-2062 (2013).</li><li>Frentzen, 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=Anti-VEGF+single-chain+antibody+GLAF-1+encoded+by+oncolytic+vaccinia+virus+significantly+enhances+antitumor+therapy.">Anti-VEGF single-chain antibody GLAF-1 encoded by oncolytic vaccinia virus significantly enhances antitumor therapy.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 106 (31), 12915-12920 (2009).</li><li>Pastoret, P. P., Vanderplasschen, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Poxviruses+as+vaccine+vectors.">Poxviruses as vaccine vectors.</a> Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 26 (5-6), 343-355 (2003).</li><li>COLLIER, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+development+of+a+stable+smallpox+vaccine.">The development of a stable smallpox vaccine.</a> The Journal of Hygiene. 53 (1), 76-101 (1955).</li><li>Weir, J. P., Bajsz&#225;r, G., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mapping+of+the+vaccinia+virus+thymidine+kinase+gene+by+marker+rescue+and+by+cell-free+translation+of+selected+mRNA.">Mapping of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase gene by marker rescue and by cell-free translation of selected mRNA.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 79 (4), 1210-1214 (1982).</li><li>Mackett, M., Smith, G. L., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vaccinia+virus:+a+selectable+eukaryotic+cloning+and+expression+vector.">Vaccinia virus: a selectable eukaryotic cloning and expression vector.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 79 (23), 7415-7419 (1982).</li><li>Nakano, E., Panicali, D., Paoletti, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+genetics+of+vaccinia+virus:+demonstration+of+marker+rescue.">Molecular genetics of vaccinia virus: demonstration of marker rescue.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 79 (5), 1593-1596 (1982).</li><li>Falkner, F. G., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transient+dominant+selection+of+recombinant+vaccinia+viruses.">Transient dominant selection of recombinant vaccinia viruses.</a> Journal of Virology. 64 (6), 3108-3111 (1990).</li><li>Staib, C., Drexler, I., Ohlmann, M., Wintersperger, S., Erfle, V., Sutter, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transient+Host+Range+Selection+for+Genetic+Engineering+of+Modified+Vaccinia+Virus+Ankara.">Transient Host Range Selection for Genetic Engineering of Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara.</a> BioTechniques. 28 (6), 1137-1148 (2000).</li><li>Staib, C., Drexler, I., Sutter, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Construction+and+Isolation+of+Recombinant+MVA.">Construction and Isolation of Recombinant MVA.</a> Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology. , 77-99 (2004).</li><li>Di Lullo, 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=Marker+gene+swapping+facilitates+recombinant+Modified+Vaccinia+Virus+Ankara+production+by+host-range+selection.">Marker gene swapping facilitates recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara production by host-range selection.</a> Journal of Virological Methods. 156 (1-2), 37-43 (2009).</li><li>Pfaller, C. K., Li, Z., George, C. X., Samuel, C. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+kinase+PKR+and+RNA+adenosine+deaminase+ADAR1:+New+roles+for+old+players+as+modulators+of+the+interferon+response.">Protein kinase PKR and RNA adenosine deaminase ADAR1: New roles for old players as modulators of the interferon response.</a> Current Opinion in Immunology. 23 (5), 573-582 (2011).</li><li>Bevilacqua, P. C., George, C. X., Samuel, C. E., Cech, T. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Binding+of+the+protein+kinase+PKR+to+RNAs+with+secondary+structure+defects:+Role+of+the+tandem+A+-+G+mismatch+and+noncontigous+helixes.">Binding of the protein kinase PKR to RNAs with secondary structure defects: Role of the tandem A - G mismatch and noncontigous helixes.</a> Biochemistry. 37 (18), 6303-6316 (1998).</li><li>Krishnamoorthy, T., Pavitt, G. D., Zhang, F., Dever, T. E., Hinnebusch, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tight+Binding+of+the+Phosphorylated+Subunit+of+Initiation+Factor+2+(eIF2)+to+the+Regulatory+Subunits+of+Guanine+Nucleotide+Exchange+Factor+eIF2B+Is+Required+for+Inhibition+of+Translation+Initiation.">Tight Binding of the Phosphorylated Subunit of Initiation Factor 2 (eIF2) to the Regulatory Subunits of Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor eIF2B Is Required for Inhibition of Translation Initiation.</a> Molecular and Cellular Biology. 21 (15), 5018-5030 (2001).</li><li>Rothenburg, S., Georgiadis, M. M., Wek, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolution+of+eIF2&#945;+kinases:+Adapting+translational+control+to+diverse+stresses.">Evolution of eIF2&#945; kinases: Adapting translational control to diverse stresses.</a> Evolution of the Protein Synthesis Machinery and Its Regulation. , 235-260 (2016).</li><li>Bratke, K. A., McLysaght, A., Rothenburg, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+survey+of+host+range+genes+in+poxvirus+genomes.">A survey of host range genes in poxvirus genomes.</a> Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 14, 406-425 (2013).</li><li>Chang, H. W., Watson, J. C., Jacobs, B. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+E3L+gene+of+vaccinia+virus+encodes+an+inhibitor+of+the+interferon-induced,+double-stranded+RNA-dependent+protein+kinase.">The E3L gene of vaccinia virus encodes an inhibitor of the interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 89 (11), 4825-4829 (1992).</li><li>Romano, P. 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=Inhibition+of+double-stranded+RNA-dependent+protein+kinase+PKR+by+vaccinia+virus+E3:+role+of+complex+formation+and+the+E3+N-terminal+domain.">Inhibition of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR by vaccinia virus E3: role of complex formation and the E3 N-terminal domain.</a> Molecular and Cellular Biology. 18 (12), 7304-7316 (1998).</li><li>Beattie, E., Tartaglia, J., Paoletti, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vaccinia+virus-encoded+eIF-2+alpha+homolog+abrogates+the+antiviral+effect+of+interferon.">Vaccinia virus-encoded eIF-2 alpha homolog abrogates the antiviral effect of interferon.</a> Virology. 183 (1), 419-422 (1991).</li><li>Park, C., Peng, C., Brennan, G., Rothenburg, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Species-specific+inhibition+of+antiviral+protein+kinase+R+by+capripoxviruses+and+vaccinia+virus.">Species-specific inhibition of antiviral protein kinase R by capripoxviruses and vaccinia virus.</a> Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1438 (1), 18-29 (2019).</li><li>Rothenburg, S., Brennan, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Species-Specific+Host-Virus+Interactions:+Implications+for+Viral+Host+Range+and+Virulence.">Species-Specific Host-Virus Interactions: Implications for Viral Host Range and Virulence.</a> Trends in Microbiology. , (2019).</li><li>Chakrabarti, S., Sisler, J. R., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Compact,+synthetic,+vaccinia+virus+early/late+promoter+for+protein+expression.">Compact, synthetic, vaccinia virus early/late promoter for protein expression.</a> BioTechniques. 23 (6), 1094-1097 (1997).</li><li>Chung, C. T., Niemela, S. L., Miller, R. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=One-step+preparation+of+competent+Escherichia+coli:+Transformation+and+storage+of+bacterial+cells+in+the+same+solution+(recombinant+DNA).">One-step preparation of competent Escherichia coli: Transformation and storage of bacterial cells in the same solution (recombinant DNA).</a> Biochemistry. 86, 2172-2175 (1989).</li><li>Chung, C. T., Miller, R. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+and+storage+of+competent+Escherichia+coli+cells.">Preparation and storage of competent Escherichia coli cells.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 218, 621-627 (1993).</li><li>Rahman, M. M., Liu, J., Chan, W. M., Rothenburg, S., McFadden, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myxoma+Virus+Protein+M029+Is+a+Dual+Function+Immunomodulator+that+Inhibits+PKR+and+Also+Conscripts+RHA/DHX9+to+Promote+Expanded+Host+Tropism+and+Viral+Replication.">Myxoma Virus Protein M029 Is a Dual Function Immunomodulator that Inhibits PKR and Also Conscripts RHA/DHX9 to Promote Expanded Host Tropism and Viral Replication.</a> PLOS Pathogens. 9 (7), 1003465 (2013).</li><li>Evans, D. H., Stuart, D., McFadden, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+levels+of+genetic+recombination+among+cotransfected+plasmid+DNAs+in+poxvirus-infected+mammalian+cells.">High levels of genetic recombination among cotransfected plasmid DNAs in poxvirus-infected mammalian cells.</a> Journal of Virology. 62 (2), 367-375 (1988).</li><li>Ball, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-frequency+homologous+recombination+in+vaccinia+virus+DNA.">High-frequency homologous recombination in vaccinia virus DNA.</a> Journal of Virology. 61 (6), 1788-1795 (1987).</li><li>Spyropoulos, D. D., Roberts, B. E., Panicali, D. L., Cohen, L. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Delineation+of+the+viral+products+of+recombination+in+vaccinia+virus-infected+cells.">Delineation of the viral products of recombination in vaccinia virus-infected cells.</a> Journal of Virology. 62 (3), 1046-1054 (1988).</li><li>Liu, L., 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=Transient+dominant+host-range+selection+using+Chinese+hamster+ovary+cells+to+generate+marker-free+recombinant+viral+vectors+from+vaccinia+virus.">Transient dominant host-range selection using Chinese hamster ovary cells to generate marker-free recombinant viral vectors from vaccinia virus.</a> BioTechniques. 62 (4), 183-187 (2017).</li></ol>

Here we present a variation of a transient marker selection strategy 32 to generate recombinant vaccinia viruses without retaining foreign DNA in the final recombinant virus. Our strategy uses selective pressure mediated by the host antiviral protein PKR rather than other forms of selective pressure such as antibiotics. The use of host antiviral genes eliminates the possibility of chemically induced phenotypic changes in the cells, or increased risk of mutation due to selection drugs. Furthermore,...

Vaccinia virus (VACV) was instrumental for the first successful eradication of a human pathogen, variola virus (VARV), from nature. Ever since the extermination of variola virus, poxviruses including VACV have continued to be useful therapeutic viruses for both human and animal medicine. For example, a VACV-based rabies virus vaccine has been very effective in preventing transmission of sylvatic rabies in Europe1 and the United States2. More recently, recombinant poxviruses expressing a variety of anti-tumor molecules (e.g., single-chain antibodies or human erythropoietin) have seen encouraging success as oncolytic agents3,4,5. VACV is particularly attractive as a vector because it is readily amenable to genetic manipulation, possesses a broad host range, and it is stable under a variety of conditions, allowing easy transportation and vaccine viability in the field6,7. While multiple techniques have been developed to generate recombinant VACV for laboratory experiments and vaccine generation, current strategies to generate these viruses have notable limitations.
Because of the utility of VACV, multiple strategies to generate recombinant viruses have been developed. The first strategy employs homologous recombination to introduce a cassette including the transgene and a selectable marker gene such as an antibiotic resistance gene. The cassette is flanked by two ~500 nucleotides (nt) or larger arms directing the gene to a specific site in the viral genome, which is then stably integrated by double crossover events8,9,10. This strategy is rapid and efficient; however, it results in extra genetic material in the form of the marker gene that may produce unexpected effects. Furthermore, there is a practical upper limit to the number of transgenes that can be introduced limited by the number of unique selectable markers available. Transient dominant selection (TDS) strategies have addressed this issue by facilitating the generation of &#34;scarless&#34; recombinant viruses11. Using this strategy, a plasmid containing a mutant VACV gene and a selectable marker gene are integrated into the viral genome, but without additional flanking VACV DNA. This approach results in transient integration of the entire plasmid and duplication of the VACV gene as a result of integration by a single crossover event. This intermediate is stable as long as it is maintained under selection pressure, permitting enrichment of this construct. When selection is removed, the VACV duplication enables a second crossover event that results in the removal of the plasmid and subsequent formation of either the wild type (wt) or recombinant virus in an approximate 50:50 ratio. While TDS generates recombinant viruses without requiring the stable introduction of foreign DNA, multiple virus clones must be screened for the expected mutation by sequencing analysis, a potentially time consuming and costly step.
Here, we present an approach to generating recombinant poxviruses combining the best aspects of each of these approaches, similar to an approach that has been described for the replication incompetent modified vaccinia Ankara12,13,14. This strategy combines visual and host range selection to rapidly generate recombinant viruses by double crossover events, and subsequently eliminate the selectable marker gene by homologous recombination. This approach permits the rapid generation of mutants mediated by homologous recombination, with the &#34;scarless&#34; nature of TDS approaches, while not requiring a subsequent screening step to distinguish wild type and mutant viruses. Our method also uses host range selection in place of antibiotic selection, eliminating the risk of chemically induced phenotypic changes in the cell line. For this approach, we have chosen to use the host antiviral protein kinase R (PKR) as the selective agent to generate recombinant VACV. PKR is expressed as an inactive monomer in most cell types15. Upon binding double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) at the N-terminal dsRNA-binding domains, PKR dimerizes and is autophosphorylated16. This active form of PKR phosphorylates the alpha subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2), ultimately inhibiting delivery of initiator methionyl-tRNA to the ribosome, thereby preventing intracellular translation and broadly inhibiting the replication of many virus families17,18.
In response to the broad and potent antiviral activity of PKR, many viruses have evolved at least one strategy to prevent PKR activation. Most poxviruses express two PKR antagonists, encoded by the E3L and K3L genes in VACV, which antagonize PKR through two distinct mechanisms19. E3 prevents PKR homodimerization by binding double-stranded RNA20,21, while K3 acts as a pseudosubstrate inhibitor by binding directly to activated PKR and thereby inhibiting interaction with its substrate eIF2&#945;22. Importantly, these two PKR antagonists do not necessarily inhibit PKR from all species. For example, the K3 homolog from the sheeppox virus strongly inhibited PKR from sheep, whereas the sheeppox E3 homolog did not show considerable PKR inhibition23,24. In this study, we present a method to use PKR-mediated selective pressure combined with fluorescence selection to generate a VACV recombinant deleted for E3L and K3L (VC-R4), which cannot replicate in PKR competent cells derived from diverse species. This recombinant virus provides an excellent background for rapid generation of recombinant viruses expressing genes under control of the native E3L promoter.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2X-Q5 Master Mix</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>M0492L</td>
			<td>High-fidelity polymerase used in PCR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ampicillin</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>11593027</td>
			<td>Bacterial selective agent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable Cell Scrapers</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-100-242</td>
			<td>Cell scraper to harvest infected cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS FL Auto 2 Cell imaging system</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AMAFD2000</td>
			<td>Fluorescent microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS Light Cube, GFP</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>AMEP4651</td>
			<td>GFP Cube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS Light Cube, RFP</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>AMEP4652</td>
			<td>RFP Cube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GenJet</td>
			<td>SignaGen Laboratories</td>
			<td>SL100489</td>
			<td>Transfection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Luria Bertani (LB) Broth</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10855021</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Monarch DNA gel extraction kit</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>T1020L</td>
			<td>Gel purification kit used to purify amplicons and linearized vectors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Monarch Plasmid Miniprep kit</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>T1010L</td>
			<td>Miniprep kit ussed to purify plasmids</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoDrop One</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>ND-ONE-W</td>
			<td>Spectrophotometer used to measure RNA and DNA concentration</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NEBuilder Master Mix</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>E2621L</td>
			<td>Isothermal enzymatic assembly kit used to generate the recombination vector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Q500 Sonicator</td>
			<td>Qsonica</td>
			<td>Q500-110</td>
			<td>Sonicator for virus lysates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RK13 cells</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CCL-37</td>
			<td>Rabbit kidney cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VWR Multiwell Cell Culture plates</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10062-892</td>
			<td>Cell culture plates</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

rapid, seamless generation of recombinant poxviruses using host range and visual selection

Vaccinia virus (VACV) was instrumental in eradicating variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, from nature. Since its first use as a vaccine, VACV has been developed as a vector for therapeutic vaccines and as an oncolytic virus. These applications take advantage of VACV&#8217;s easily manipulated genome and broad host range as an outstanding platform to generate recombinant viruses with a variety of therapeutic applications. Several methods have been developed to generate recombinant VACV, including marker selection methods and transient dominant selection. Here, we present a refinement of a host range selection method coupled with visual identification of recombinant viruses. Our method takes advantage of selective pressure generated by the host antiviral protein kinase R (PKR) coupled with a fluorescent fusion gene expressing mCherry-tagged E3L, one of two VACV PKR antagonists. The cassette, including the gene of interest and the mCherry-E3L fusion is flanked by sequences derived from the VACV genome. Between the gene of interest and mCherry-E3L is a smaller region that is identical to the first ~150 nucleotides of the 3&#8217; arm, to promote homologous recombination and loss of the mCherry-E3L gene after selection. We demonstrate that this method permits efficient, seamless generation of rVACV in a variety of cell types without requiring drug selection or extensive screening for mutant viruses.

We used the procedure diagrammed in Figure 1 to generate a VACV lacking both PKR antagonists E3L and K3L, by replacing E3L with EGFP in a virus already deleted for K3L (vP872). Figure 2 shows red fluorescent plaques in PKR competent RK13 cells indicative of viral expression of mCherry-E3L, as well as EGFP expressed in RK13+E3L+K3L cells confirming the loss of E3L and collapse of the mCherry-E3L selection marker. Figure 3 confirms th...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection at JoVE.com

Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection

This is a method to generate &#8220;scarless&#8221; recombinant vaccinia viruses using host-range selection and visual identification of recombinant viruses.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) was instrumental in eradicating variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, from nature. Since its first use as a ...

Our method uses host range selection and fluorescent markers for the efficient and seamless generation of recombinant vaccina virus in a variety of cell types. This technique combines the speed of homologous recombination with the scarless nature of transient dominant selection. In addition, we host range selection to eliminate the possibility of chemically induced changes.This method can also be used to modify vaccinia virus or other poxviruses to express foreign genes, for example, to generate vaccines. If you're performing this protocol with fluorescence selection only, you must ensure that you're screening enough viruses to detect a relatively rare recombinants without PKR selective pressure. This method relies on the gain and loss of fluorescent markers to successfully select viruses that have acquired the recombination cassettes and to detect viruses that have scarless recombined.To generate a recombination vector, first add 17 microliters of DNase free water, 1.2 microliters of each primer, five microliters of 5x PCR reaction buffer, template DNA, and 0.5 microliters of DNA polymerase to one PCR tube per amplicon. Add additional DNase free water to bring the final volume in each tube to 50 microliters. And place the tubes into a thermocycler.Melt the DNA at 98 degree Celsius for 30 seconds before using 25 rounds of a three-step PCR protocol as indicated. To visualize the amplification products on a 1%agarose gel, add 10 microliters of each DNA product and 2 microliters of loading buffer to each well. Run the gel for one hour at eight volts per centimeter.At the end of the run, use a DNA gel extraction kit according to the manufacturer's protocol to gel purify each amplicon. Elute the amplicons from the column with 50 microliters of DNase free water and immediate centrifugation. To linearize a cloning vector, first add one microgram of the vector, 17 microliters of DNase free water, 2 microliters of reaction buffer, and 1 microliter of EcoRI to a tube for a one hour incubation at 37 degree Celsius.At the end of the incubation, add 0.2 picomoles of the linearized vector 10 microliters of DNase free water, and 10 microliters of DNA assembly master mix to each isolated amplicon. Incubate samples at 50 degree Celsius for one hour. At the end of the incubation, transform chemically competent E.coli with two microliters of the assembled product according to standard protocols.Plate 100 microliters of transformed cells onto LB agarose plates supplemented with 100 micrograms per milliliter of ampicillin. After overnight incubation at 37 degree Celsius, select well-isolated colonies for inoculation in Luria broth supplemented with 100 micrograms per milliliter of ampicillin overnight at 37 degree Celsius and 225 revolutions per minute. The next morning, use a plasmid miniprep kit to isolate the plasmids.And check the concentration and purity of the DNA on a spectrophotometer. For recombinant virus generation, infect a confluent monolayer of suitable cells with the virus to be recombined at a multiplicity of infection of one in a six-well plate. And incubate the infected cells at 37 degree Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide for one hour.At the end of the incubation, replace the supernatant in each well with fresh DMEM and using a commercially available transfection reagent according to the manufacturer's protocol. Add a three micrograms of the recombination vector of interest to each well. Place the plate in the incubator for additional 48 hours.Before pooling the cells from each transfection condition into individual 1.5 milliliters tubes. Then freeze-thaw the pooled cells three times before sonicating the resulting lysates for 15 seconds at a 50%amplitude. Next, serially 10-fold dilute the sonicated lysate, harvested from a 10 to the first to 10 to the sixth concentration in fresh DMEM and add one milliliter of each dilution to individual confluent wells of a protein kinase R competent cell line.Place the cells in the cell culture incubator for one hour before replacing the supernatants with fresh medium and returning the cells to the cell culture incubator. After 24 to 48 hours, identify the recombinant viruses by fluorescence microscopy. Plaques from recombinant viruses express red fluorescence due to integration of the mCherry-E3L fusion gene.Plaque purify the recombinant viruses three times on wild type RK13 cells. After three rounds of plaque purification, infect RK13+E3L+K3L cells with serial dilutions of the plaque lysate. To identify the collapsed viruses, by fluorescence microscopy using an appropriate imaging system equipped with GFP and RFP filter cubes.Then plaque purify green-only VC-R4, or colorless E3L plaques three times on RK13+E3L+K3L cells. Ensuring that no plaques fluoresce red. Infect the cells with at least 100 plaque forming units to increase your chances of identifying a colorless plaque.In rare cases, multiple rounds of infection might be required. Red fluorescent plaques in protein kinase R competent RK13 cells are indicative of viral expression of mCherry-E3L. And colorless plaques or plaques expressing only eGFP in RK13+E3L+K3L cells confirm the collapse of the mCherry-E3L selection marker.The recombinant virus VC-R4, which lacks both protein kinase R antagonists cannot replicate in protein kinase R competent RK13 cells while the apparent virus VP872, which expresses E3L is replication competent. To confirm that this inability to replicate in RK13 cells was only due to the loss of E3L, enhanced GFP was replaced with E3L in the VC-R4 virus. It generated a relevant virus using the same selection protocol.Interestingly, while making this virus, colorless plaques consistent with collapse of the mCherry-E3L selection marker were identified prior to selection in RK13+E3L+K3L cells that are generally required to select scarless recombinants. Likely because of the extended sequence identity between the mCherry-E3L recombination cassette and the E3L gene being inserted into VC-R4. On average 12.6%of progeny virions underwent recombination with the transfected plasmid, similar to previously reported frequencies.Here, the frequency of colorless plaques relative to the total plaques RK13+E3L+K3L cells is shown, demonstrating that the rate of collapse and the loss of the mCherry-E3L selection marker occurred at an approximately 1.8%frequency. In the first stage using PKR competent cells ensures that all of the plaques with contained recombinant virus. In the second stage using PKR deficient cells enables the detection of recombinant virus with a collapse mCherry-E3L locus.This approach allows us to rapidly generate viruses containing exogenous genes, for example, for vaccine production offer the expression of different viral PKR antagonists. to facilitate the analysis of species-specific interactions with PKR from various hosts.

rapid-seamless-generation-recombinant-poxviruses-using-host-range

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Generation of Recombinant Influenza Virus from Plasmid DNA

Efforts by a number of influenza research groups have been pivotal in the development and improvement of influenza A virus reverse genetics. Originally established in 1999 1,2 plasmid-based reverse genetic techniques to generate recombinant viruses have revolutionized the influenza research field because specific questions have been answered by genetically engineered, infectious, recombinant influenza viruses. Such studies include virus replication, function of viral proteins, the contribution of specific mutations in viral proteins in viral replication and/or pathogenesis and, also, viral vectors using recombinant influenza viruses expressing foreign proteins 3.

Rescue of influenza A viruses from plasmid DNA is a basic and essential experimental technique that allows influenza researchers to generate recombinant viruses to study multiple aspects in the biology of influenza virus, and to be used as potential vectors or vaccines.

Efforts by a number of influenza research groups have been pivotal in the development and improvement of influenza A virus reverse genetics. Originally ...

RNAi Screening for Host Factors Involved in Vaccinia Virus Infection using Drosophila Cells

Viral pathogens represent a significant public health threat; not only can viruses cause natural epidemics of human disease, but their potential use in bioterrorism is also a concern. A better understanding of the cellular factors that impact infection would facilitate the development of much-needed therapeutics. Recent advances in RNA interference (RNAi) technology coupled with complete genome sequencing of several organisms has led to the optimization of genome-wide, cell-based loss-of-function screens. Drosophila cells are particularly amenable to genome-scale screens because of the ease and efficiency of RNAi in this system 1. Importantly, a wide variety of viruses can infect Drosophila cells, including a number of mammalian viruses of medical and agricultural importance 2,3,4. Previous RNAi screens in Drosophila have identified host factors that are required for various steps in virus infection including entry, translation and RNA replication 5. Moreover, many of the cellular factors required for viral replication in Drosophila cell culture are also limiting in human cells infected with these viruses 4,6,7,8, 9. Therefore, the identification of host factors co-opted during viral infection presents novel targets for antiviral therapeutics. Here we present a generalized protocol for a high-throughput RNAi screen to identify cellular factors involved in viral infection, using vaccinia virus as an example.

RNAi Screening for Host Factors Involved in Vaccinia Virus Infection using Drosophila Cells

Novel host factors involved in viral infection can be identified through cell-based genome-wide loss of function RNAi screening. A Drosophila cell culture model is particularly amenable to this approach due to the ease and efficiency of RNAi. Here we demonstrate this technique using vaccinia virus as an example.

Viral pathogens represent a significant public health threat; not only can viruses cause natural epidemics of human disease, but their potential use in ...

Combination of Adhesive-tape-based Sampling and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Rapid Detection of Salmonella on Fresh Produce

This protocol describes a simple approach for adhesive-tape-based sampling of tomato and other fresh produce surfaces, followed by on-tape fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for rapid culture-independent detection of Salmonella spp. Cell-charged tapes can also be placed face-down on selective agar for solid-phase enrichment prior to detection. Alternatively, low-volume liquid enrichments (liquid surface miniculture) can be performed on the surface of the tape in non-selective broth, followed by FISH and analysis via flow cytometry. To begin, sterile adhesive tape is brought into contact with fresh produce, gentle pressure is applied, and the tape is removed, physically extracting microbes present on these surfaces. Tapes are mounted sticky-side up onto glass microscope slides and the sampled cells are fixed with 10% formalin (30 min) and dehydrated using a graded ethanol series (50, 80, and 95%; 3 min each concentration). Next, cell-charged tapes are spotted with buffer containing a Salmonella-targeted DNA probe cocktail and hybridized for 15 - 30 min at 55&deg;C, followed by a brief rinse in a washing buffer to remove unbound probe. Adherent, FISH-labeled cells are then counterstained with the DNA dye 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and results are viewed using fluorescence microscopy. For solid-phase enrichment, cell-charged tapes are placed face-down on a suitable selective agar surface and incubated to allow in situ growth of Salmonella microcolonies, followed by FISH and microscopy as described above. For liquid surface miniculture, cell-charged tapes are placed sticky side up and a silicone perfusion chamber is applied so that the tape and microscope slide form the bottom of a water-tight chamber into which a small volume (&le; 500 &mu;L) of Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB) is introduced. The inlet ports are sealed and the chambers are incubated at 35 - 37&deg;C, allowing growth-based amplification of tape-extracted microbes. Following incubation, inlet ports are unsealed, cells are detached and mixed with vigorous back and forth pipetting, harvested via centrifugation and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Finally, samples are hybridized and examined via flow cytometry to reveal the presence of Salmonella spp. As described here, our "tape-FISH" approach can provide simple and rapid sampling and detection of Salmonella on tomato surfaces. We have also used this approach for sampling other types of fresh produce, including spinach and jalape&ntilde;o peppers.

Combination of Adhesive-tape-based Sampling and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Rapid Detection of Salmonella on Fresh Produce

This protocol describes a simple adhesive-tape-based approach for sampling of tomato and other fresh produce surfaces, followed by rapid whole cell detection of Salmonella using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

This protocol describes a simple approach for adhesive-tape-based sampling of tomato and other fresh produce surfaces, followed by on-tape fluorescence in ...

Production and Titering of Recombinant Adeno-associated Viral Vectors

In recent years recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) have become increasingly valuable for in vivo studies in animals, and are also currently being tested in human clinical trials. Wild-type AAV is a non-pathogenic member of the parvoviridae family and inherently replication-deficient. The broad transduction profile, low immune response as well as the strong and persistent transgene expression achieved with these vectors has made them a popular and versatile tool for in vitro and in vivo gene delivery. rAAVs can be easily and cheaply produced in the laboratory and, based on their favourable safety profile, are generally given a low safety classification. Here, we describe a method for the production and titering of chimeric rAAVs containing the capsid proteins of both AAV1 and AAV2. The use of these so-called chimeric vectors combines the benefits of both parental serotypes such as high titres stocks (AAV1) and purification by affinity chromatography (AAV2). These AAV serotypes are the best studied of all AAV serotypes, and individually have a broad infectivity pattern. The chimeric vectors described here should have the infectious properties of AAV1 and AAV2 and can thus be expected to infect a large range of tissues, including neurons, skeletal muscle, pancreas, kidney among others. The method described here uses heparin column purification, a method believed to give a higher viral titer and cleaner viral preparation than other purification methods, such as centrifugation through a caesium chloride gradient. Additionally, we describe how these vectors can be quickly and easily titered to give accurate reading of the number of infectious particles produced.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAVs) vectors are becoming increasingly valuable for in vivo studies in animals. We describe how rAAVs can be produced in the laboratory and how these vectors can be titered to give an accurate reading of the number of infectious particles produced.

In recent years recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) have become increasingly valuable for in vivo studies in animals, and are also currently ...

Generation of Recombinant Arenavirus for Vaccine Development in FDA-Approved Vero Cells

The development and implementation of arenavirus reverse genetics represents a significant breakthrough in the arenavirus field 4. The use of cell-based arenavirus minigenome systems together with the ability to generate recombinant infectious arenaviruses with predetermined mutations in their genomes has facilitated the investigation of the contribution of viral determinants to the different steps of the arenavirus life cycle, as well as virus-host interactions and mechanisms of arenavirus pathogenesis 1, 3, 11 . In addition, the development of trisegmented arenaviruses has permitted the use of the arenavirus genome to express additional foreign genes of interest, thus opening the possibility of arenavirus-based vaccine vector applications 5 . Likewise, the development of single-cycle infectious arenaviruses capable of expressing reporter genes provides a new experimental tool to improve the safety of research involving highly pathogenic human arenaviruses 16 . The generation of recombinant arenaviruses using plasmid-based reverse genetics techniques has so far relied on the use of rodent cell lines 7,19 , which poses some barriers for the development of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed vaccine or vaccine vectors. To overcome this obstacle, we describe here the efficient generation of recombinant arenaviruses in FDA-approved Vero cells.

Rescue of recombinant arenaviruses from cloned cDNAs, an approach referred to as reverse genetics, allows researchers to investigate the role of specific viral gene products, as well as the contribution of their different specific domains and residues, to many different aspects of the biology of arenavirus. Likewise, reverse genetics techniques in FDA-approved cell lines (Vero) for vaccine development provides novel possibilities for the generation of effective and safe vaccines to combat human pathogenic arenaviruses.

The development and implementation of arenavirus reverse genetics represents a significant breakthrough in the arenavirus field  4. The use of cell-based ...

Scalable High Throughput Selection From  Phage-displayed Synthetic Antibody Libraries

The demand for antibodies that fulfill the needs of both basic and clinical research applications is high and will dramatically increase in the future. However, it is apparent that traditional monoclonal technologies are not alone up to this task. This has led to the development of alternate methods to satisfy the demand for high quality and renewable affinity reagents to all accessible elements of the proteome. Toward this end, high throughput methods for conducting selections from phage-displayed synthetic antibody libraries have been devised for applications involving diverse antigens and optimized for rapid throughput and success. Herein, a protocol is described in detail that illustrates with video demonstration the parallel selection of Fab-phage clones from high diversity libraries against hundreds of targets using either a manual 96 channel liquid handler or automated robotics system. Using this protocol, a single user can generate hundreds of antigens, select antibodies to them in parallel and validate antibody binding within 6-8 weeks. Highlighted are: i) a viable antigen format, ii) pre-selection antigen characterization, iii) critical steps that influence the selection of specific and high affinity clones, and iv) ways of monitoring selection effectiveness and early stage antibody clone characterization. With this approach, we have obtained synthetic antibody fragments (Fabs) to many target classes including single-pass membrane receptors, secreted protein hormones, and multi-domain intracellular proteins. These fragments are readily converted to full-length antibodies and have been validated to exhibit high affinity and specificity. Further, they have been demonstrated to be functional in a variety of standard immunoassays including Western blotting, ELISA, cellular immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and related assays. This methodology will accelerate antibody discovery and ultimately bring us closer to realizing the goal of generating renewable, high quality antibodies to the proteome.

A method is described with visual accompaniment for conducting scalable, high throughput selections from phage-displayed combinatorial synthetic antibody libraries against hundreds of antigens simultaneously. Using this parallel approach, we have isolated antibody fragments that exhibit high affinity and specificity for diverse antigens that are functional in standard immunoassays.

The demand for antibodies that fulfill the needs of both basic and clinical research applications is high and will dramatically increase in the future. ...

Generation of Recombinant Human IgG Monoclonal Antibodies from Immortalized Sorted B Cells

Finding new methods for generating human monoclonal antibodies is an active research field that is important for both basic and applied sciences, including the development of immunotherapeutics. However, the techniques to identify and produce such antibodies tend to be arduous and sometimes the heavy and light chain pair of the antibodies are dissociated. Here, we describe a relatively simple, straightforward protocol to produce human recombinant monoclonal antibodies from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells using immortalization with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Toll-like receptor 9 activation. With an adequate staining, B cells producing antibodies can be isolated for subsequent immortalization and clonal expansion. The antibody transcripts produced by the immortalized B cell clones can be amplified by PCR, sequenced as corresponding heavy and light chain pairs and cloned into immunoglobulin expression vectors. The antibodies obtained with this technique can be powerful tools to study relevant human immune responses, including autoimmunity, and create the basis for new therapeutics.

Synthesis of human monoclonal antibodies is the first step in studies aimed at unraveling the pathophysiological mechanisms of auto-antibody-mediated immune responses. We have developed a protocol to generate recombinant human immunoglobulin G (IgG) monoclonal antibodies from blood sorted B cells, including B-cell isolation, antibody cloning and in vitro synthesis.

Finding new methods for generating human monoclonal antibodies is an active research field that is important for both basic and applied sciences, ...

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions

Many gram-negative bacteria including pathogenic Yersinia spp. employ type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into eukaryotic target cells. Inside the host cell the effector proteins manipulate cellular functions to the benefit of the bacteria. To better understand the control of type III secretion during host cell interaction, sensitive and accurate assays to measure translocation are required. We here describe the application of an assay based on the fusion of a Yersinia enterocolitica effector protein fragment (Yersinia outer protein; YopE) with TEM-1 beta-lactamase for quantitative analysis of translocation. The assay relies on cleavage of a cell permeant FRET dye (CCF4/AM) by translocated beta-lactamase fusion. After cleavage of the cephalosporin core of CCF4 by the beta-lactamase, FRET from coumarin to fluorescein is disrupted and excitation of the coumarin moiety leads to blue fluorescence emission. Different applications of this method have been described in the literature highlighting its versatility. The method allows for analysis of translocation in vitro and also in in vivo, e.g., in a mouse model. Detection of the fluorescence signals can be performed using plate readers, FACS analysis or fluorescence microscopy. In the setup described here, in vitro translocation of effector fusions into HeLa cells by different Yersinia mutants is monitored by laser scanning microscopy. Recording intracellular conversion of the FRET reporter by the beta-lactamase effector fusion in real-time provides robust quantitative results. We here show exemplary data, demonstrating increased translocation by a Y. enterocolitica YopE mutant compared to the wild type strain.

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions

Effector translocation into host cells via a type III secretion system is a common virulence strategy among gram-negative bacteria. A beta-lactamase effector fusion based assay for quantitative analysis of translocation was applied. In Yersinia infected cells, conversion of a FRET reporter by the beta-lactamase is monitored using laser scanning microscopy.

Many gram-negative bacteria including pathogenic Yersinia spp. employ type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into eukaryotic target ...

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses

There are a variety of strategies bacterial pathogens employ to survive and proliferate once inside the eukaryotic cell. The so-called 'cytosolic' pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia spp.) gain access to the infected cell cytosol by physically and enzymatically degrading the primary vacuolar membrane. Once in the cytosol, these pathogens both proliferate as well as generate sufficient mechanical forces to penetrate the plasma membrane of the host cell in order to infect new cells. Here, we show how this terminal step of the cellular infection cycle of L. monocytogenes (Lm) can be quantified by both colony-forming unit assays and flow cytometry and give examples of how both pathogen- and host-encoded factors impact this process. We also show a close correspondence of Lm infection dynamics of cultured cells infected in vitro and those of hepatic cells derived from mice infected in vivo. These function-based assays are relatively simple and can be readily scaled up for discovery-based high-throughput screens for modulators of eukaryotic cell function.

We describe both in vitro and in vivo infection assays that can be used to analyze the activities of host-encoding factors.

There are a variety of strategies bacterial pathogens employ to survive and proliferate once inside the eukaryotic cell. The so-called 'cytosolic' ...

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

The use of recombinant viruses has become crucial in basic or applied virology. Reverse genetics has been proven to be an extremely powerful technology, both to decipher viral replication mechanisms and to study antivirals or provide development platform for vaccines. The construction and manipulation of a reverse genetic system for a negative-strand RNA virus such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), however, remains delicate and requires special know-how. The RSV genome is a single-strand, negative-sense RNA of about 15 kb that serves as a template for both viral RNA replication and transcription. Our reverse genetics system uses a cDNA copy of the human RSV long strain genome (HRSV). This cDNA, as well as cDNAs encoding viral proteins of the polymerase complex (L, P, N, and M2-1), are placed in individual expression vectors under T7 polymerase control sequences. The transfection of these elements in BSR-T7/5 cells, which stably express T7 polymerase, allows the cytoplasmic replication and transcription of the recombinant RSV, giving rise to genetically modified virions. A new RSV, which is present at the cell surface and in the culture supernatant of BSRT7/5, is gathered to infect human HEp-2 cells for viral amplification. Two or three rounds of amplification are needed to obtain viral stocks containing 1 x 106 to 1 x 107 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL. Methods for the optimal harvesting, freezing, and titration of viral stocks are described here in detail. We illustrate the protocol presented here by creating two recombinant viruses respectively expressing free green fluorescent protein (GFP) (RSV-GFP) or viral M2-1 fused to GFP (RSV-M2-1-GFP). We show how to use RSV-GFP to quantify RSV replication and the RSV-M2-1-GFP to visualize viral structures, as well as viral protein dynamics in live cells, by using video microscopy techniques.

We describe a method for generating and amplifying genetically modified respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs) and an optimized plaque assay for RSVs. We illustrate this protocol by creating two recombinant viruses that respectively allow quantification of RSV replication and live analysis of RSV inclusion bodies and inclusion bodies-associated granules dynamics.

The use of recombinant viruses has become crucial in basic or applied virology. Reverse genetics has been proven to be an extremely powerful technology, ...