Resistance to Alpha/Beta Interferons Correlates with the Epizootic and Virulence Potential of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viruses and Is Determined by the 5′ Noncoding Region and Glycoproteins |
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| Authors: | Deborah R. Spotts Robin M. Reich Mohammed A. Kalkhan Richard M. Kinney John T. Roehrig |
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| Affiliation: | Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522,1. and Department of Forest Sciences2. and Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory,3. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 |
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| Abstract: | We compared the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) sensitivities of the TC-83 vaccine strain and 24 enzootic and epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) isolates. The IFN-resistant or -sensitive phenotype correlated well with epizootic or enzootic potential. IFN-α/β resistance of Trinidad donkey (TRD) virus correlated with virulence determinants in the 5′ noncoding region and glycoproteins. Infection of mice lacking a functional IFN system with the IFN-sensitive TC-83 virus resulted in disease equivalent to that produced by the virulent, IFN-resistant TRD virus, further demonstrating that IFN resistance contributes to VEE virus virulence and is a biological marker of epizootic potential. |
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