The Open Virology Journal

2012, 6 : 68-72
Published online 2012 June 8. DOI: 10.2174/1874357901206010068
Publisher ID: TOVJ-6-68

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 The E89K Mutation in the Matrix Protein of the Measles Virus Affects Cell Death and Virus Replication Efficiency in Human PBMC

Jianbao Dong1,2,3 , Wei Zhu1 , Akatsuki Saito1 , Yoshitaka Goto1 , Hiroyuki Iwata4 and Takeshi Haga, *,1
1 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
2 Research Fellow DC of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
3 The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; Tel: +81-985-58-7575; Fax: +81-985-58-7575; E-mail: a0d518u@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

Matrix protein is known to have an important role in the process of virus assembly and virion release during measles virus replication. In the present in vitro study, a single mutation of E89K in the matrix protein was shown to affect cell death and virus replication efficiency in human PBMC. One strain with this mutation caused less cell death than the parental virus, and possessed high virus replication efficiency. Moreover, by Annexin V-FITC staining, polycaspase FLICA staining, and double labeling with poly-caspase FLICA and the Hoechst stain, the cell death seen was shown to be apoptosis.

Keywords:

Measles virus, human PBMC, E89K mutation, cell death, replication efficiency..