An attenuated coxsackievirus b3 vector: a potential tool for viral tracking study and gene delivery

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 30;8(12):e83753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083753. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Cardiomyocytes are quite resistant to gene transfer using standard techniques. We developed an expression vector carrying an attenuated but infectious and replicative coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) genome, and unique ClaI-StuI cloning sites for an exogenous gene, whose product can be released from the nascent viral polyprotein by 2A(pro) cleavage. This vector was tested as an expression vehicle for green fluorescent protein (GFP). The vector transiently expressed GFP in cell cultures for at least ten passages and delivered functional GFP to the infected cardiomyocytes for at least 6 days. Moreover, the recombinant viruses showed virulence attenuation in vitro and in vivo. The findings suggest that the recombinant CVB3 vector could be a useful tool for viral tracking study and delivering exogenous proteins to cardiomyocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Enterovirus B, Human / genetics*
  • Enterovirus B, Human / pathogenicity
  • Enterovirus Infections / pathology
  • Enterovirus Infections / virology
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Order
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transgenes
  • Virulence

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81001322, 30972766 and 31170852). This study was also supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31300761). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.