Studies involving measles virus receptor interaction and inhibitors of virus-mediated membrane fusion, a prelude to a small animal model and antiviral agents directed against measles virus

grantor: University of TorontoThe recognition and entry of virus into the host cell is a significant step in viral infections. Our laboratory is interested in studying these early stages of viral infections as well as developing antiviral agents that can prevent these events. The viral model used in our laboratory is MV and with the discovery of its host cell receptor, CD46, the production of an animal model for MV was undertaken. Four transgenic mouse lines, expressing CD46, were produced were screened for CD46 expression. Infection of the transgenic mice with wild type and Edmonston strains of MV was carried out. A rodent cell line was also used to express high levels of the receptor for MV. The purpose of this cell line was to study the apparent lack of production of infectious MV particles in rodent cells. Small hydrophobic peptides such as Z-D-Phe-L-Phe-Gly have been shown to inhibit the entry of MV into the host cell and syncytia formation. The fusion protein of MV mediates these two processes and its possible interaction with Z-D-Phe-L-Phe-Gly was examined. Other peptides to a specific region of the fusion protein were also tested for their ability to inhibit MV entry.M.Sc