Open Access Short report

Development and characterization of the replicon system of Japanese encephalitis live vaccine virus SA14-14-2

Shi-Hua Li†, Xiao-Feng Li†, Hui Zhao, Yong-Qiang Deng, Xue-Dong Yu, Shun-Ya Zhu, Tao Jiang, Qing Ye, E-De Qin and Cheng-Feng Qin*

  • * Corresponding author: Cheng-Feng Qin qincf@bmi.ac.cn

  • † Equal contributors

Author Affiliations

Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China

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Virology Journal 2013, 10:64 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-10-64

Published: 26 February 2013

Abstract

Background

Viral self-replicating sub-genomic replicons represent a powerful tool for studying viral genome replication, antiviral screening and chimeric vaccine development. Many kinds of flavivirus replicons have been developed with broad applications.

Findings

The replicon system of JEV live vaccine strain SA14-14-2 was successfully developed in this study. Two kinds of replicons that express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and Renilla luciferase (R.luc) were constructed under the control of SP6 promoter, respectively. Robust EGFP and R.luc signals could be detected in the replicon-transfected BHK-21 cells. Furthermore, the potential effects of selected amino acids in the C-terminal of envelope protein on replication were characterized using the replicon system.

Conclusions

Our results provide a useful platform not only for the study of JEV replication, but also for antiviral screening and chimeric vaccine development.

Keywords:
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV); SA14-14-2; Replicon