Duplicated sequence motif in the long terminal repeat of maedi-visna virus extends cell tropism and is associated with neurovirulence

• Main Authors: Sigurður Ingvarsson 1956-, Þórður Óskarsson 1975-, Hulda Sigríður Hreggviðsdóttir 1979-, Guðrún Agnarsdóttir 1941-, Sigríður Matthíasdóttir 1953-, Margrét H. Ögmundsdóttir 1980-, Stefán Ragnar Jónsson 1977-, Ólafur Sigmar Andrésson 1951-, Valgerður Andrésdóttir 1949-, Guðmundur Georgsson 1932-2010
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/21943

Maedi-visna virus (MW) is a lentivirus of sheep causing chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs (maedi) and the nervous system (visna). We have previously shown that a duplicated sequence in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of MVV is a determinant of cell tropism. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of a CAAAT sequence from either one of the repeats resulted in poor virus growth in sheep choroid plexus cells. A duplication in the LTR encompassing the CAAAT sequence was found in four neurological field cases that were sequenced, but no duplication was present in the LTRs from seven maedi cases; one maedi isolate was mixed. These results indicate that the duplication in the LTR is associated with neurovirulence. This work was supported by grants from the Icelandic Research Fund, the University of Iceland Research Fund, and the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students.