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A cDNA-based reverse genetics system for feline calicivirus identifies the 3′ untranslated region as an essential element for viral replication

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Abstract

Virulent systemic feline calicivirus (VS-FCV) is a newly emerging FCV variant that is associated with a severe acute multisystem disease in cats that is characterized by jaundice, oedema, and high mortality (approximately 70%). VS-FCV has spread throughout the world, but there are no effective vaccines or therapeutic options to combat infection. VS-FCV may therefore pose a serious threat to the health of felines. The genomic characteristics and functions of VS-FCV are still poorly understood, and the reason for its increased pathogenicity is unknown. Reverse genetics systems are powerful tools for studying the molecular biology of RNA viruses, but a reverse genetics system for VS-FCV has not yet been reported. In this study, we developed a plasmid-based reverse genetics system for VS-FCV in which infectious progeny virus is produced in plasmid-transfected CRFK cells. Using this system, we found that the 3' untranslated region (UTR) and poly(A) tail are important for maintaining the infection and replication capacity of VS-FCV and that shortening of the poly(A) tail to less than 28 bases eliminated the ability to rescue infectious progeny virus. Whether these observations are unique to VS-FCV or represent more-general features of FCV remains to be determined. In conclusion, we successfully established a rapid and efficient VS-FCV reverse genetics system, which provides a good platform for future research on the gene functions and pathogenesis of VS-FCV. The effects of the deletion of 3' UTR and poly(A) tail on VS-FCV infectivity and replication also provided new information about the pathogenesis of VS-FCV.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Tomoichiro Oka (Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan) for providing the pKS435 vector.

Funding

This study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672572 and 32172832) and Shanghai Aoji Biotechnology Co., Ltd ((21)0526).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Jie Cheng, Jing Chen & Hulai Wei

  2. Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Jie Cheng, Aoxing Tang, Da Zhang, Chunchun Meng, Chuanfeng Li & Guangqing Liu

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  1. Jie Cheng
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Contributions

Jie Cheng: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, writing –original draft preparation, visualization, funding acquisition. Aoxing Tang: methodology, formal analysis, investigation, software. Jing Chen: methodology, visualization. Da Zhang: methodology. Chunchun Meng: conceptualization, resources. Chuanfeng Li: validation, resources. Hulai Wei: supervision, validation, resources, writing – review and editing. Guangqing Liu: conceptualization, resources, project administration, supervision, validation, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hulai Wei or Guangqing Liu.

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Cheng, J., Tang, A., Chen, J. et al. A cDNA-based reverse genetics system for feline calicivirus identifies the 3′ untranslated region as an essential element for viral replication. Arch Virol 168, 33 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-022-05695-1

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