The Remarkable Coding Strategy of Borna Disease Virus: A New Member of the Nonsegmented Negative Strand RNA Viruses

Abstract

BDV uses a remarkably broad range of mechanisms to direct expression of its 8.9-kb genome. Although much remains to be elucidated, it is clear that BDV genome expression is modulated by the use of multiple strategies, including differential gene transcription, post-transcriptional modification, and translational efficiency. Further insights into the details of this multilevel system will be essential to understanding BDV biology, pathogenesis, and neurotropism.

Detection of a novel Borna disease virus-encoded 10 kDa protein in infected cells and tissues.

“…Also, cloning and sequencing of the respective RT-PCR product did not reveal RNA splicing (data not shown). This result supports the proposal that the majority of BDV-specific mRNAs are of bi-, tri-or polycistronic nature, some of them being processed by the cellular splicing machinery (de la Torre, 1994 ;Schneemann et al, 1995). Only the mRNA encoding the BDV p38 antigen seems to be monocistronic.…”

“…10 kDa antigen from infected animal cells to such an extent that glycosylation of this component could be ruled out. (Schneemann et al, 1995 ;Schneider et al, 1997 ;GonzalezDunia et al, 1997 ;J. A. Richt and others, unpublished).…”

A reverse genetics system for Borna disease virus

“…Its genome is about 8?9 kb long, the smallest among known negative-stranded RNA viruses, and has an organization similar to that of other mononegaviruses (de la Torre, 1994;Schneemann et al, 1995). Six major ORFs are found in the BDV genome sequence (de la Torre, 1994;Schneemann et al, 1995). Based on their positions in the viral genome (39-N-p10/P-M-G-L-59), together with their biochemical and sequence features, these polypeptides are the counterparts of the nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), transcriptional activator, matrix (M) protein, surface glycoprotein (G) and polymerase (L), respectively, found in other negative-stranded RNA viruses (Tordo et al, 1992).…”

“…BDV has the property, unique among known animal negative-stranded RNA viruses, of a nuclear site for the replication and transcription of its genome (Briese et al, 1992;. In addition, BDV uses a remarkable diversity of strategies, including RNA splicing, to regulate its genome expression (Cubitt et al, 2001;de la Torre, 1994;Schneemann et al, 1995; Tomonaga et al, 2000). Based on its distinct genetic and biological features among known negative-stranded RNA viruses, BDV is considered to be the prototypic member of a new virus family, Bornaviridae, within the order Mononegavirales.…”

“…Its genome is about 8?9 kb long, the smallest among known negative-stranded RNA viruses, and has an organization similar to that of other mononegaviruses (de la Torre, 1994;Schneemann et al, 1995). Six major ORFs are found in the BDV genome sequence (de la Torre, 1994;Schneemann et al, 1995).…”