Retrograde, Transneuronal Spread of Pseudorabies Virus in Defined Neuronal Circuitry of the Rat Brain Is Facilitated by gE Mutations That Reduce Virulence

Abstract excerpt

The pseudorabies virus (PRV) gE gene encodes a multifunctional membrane protein found in infected cell membranes and in the virion envelope. Deletion of the gE gene results in marked attenuation of the virus in almost every animal species tested that is permissive for PRV. A common inference is that gE mutants are less virulent because they have reduced ability to spread from cell to cell; e.g., gE mutants infect...