Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is typically characterized by alterations in the fusion protein cytoplasmic domain of the persisting measles virus

Anita Schmid, Pius Spielhofer, Roberto Cattaneo, Knut Baczko, Volker Ter Meulen, Martin A. Billeter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our recent extensive analysis of three cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) revealed intriguing genetic defects in the persisting measles virus (MV): the fusion (F) genes encoded truncated cytoplasmic F protein domains (Cattaneo et al., Virology 173, 415-425, 1989). Now this MV genomic region has been investigated in eight additional SSPE cases by PCR amplification, replacement cloning into a vector containing the F gene of a lytic MV, in vitro expression, and sequencing. In all cases at least part of the clones showed mutations leading to F protein truncations, elongation, or nonconservative amino acid replacements. It is proposed that alteration of the F protein cytoplasmic domain may play a critical role in the development of SSPE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)910-915
Number of pages6
JournalVirology
Volume188
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is typically characterized by alterations in the fusion protein cytoplasmic domain of the persisting measles virus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this