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Detection of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in the common house mice (Mus musculus) in Italy: an underrecognized threat to human health.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected zoonotic pathogen primarily transmitted by the house mouse (Mus musculus). Despite being an underestimated zoonotic threat in Europe, LCMV lacks comprehensive surveillance. In this study, we report the first molecular detection and full genomic characterization of LCMV in Italy. Between May and November 2021, 107 rodents were captured on livestock farms in the Piedmont Region and screened for arenaviruses using a pan-arenavirus RT-PCR assay. LCMV RNA was detected in three Mus musculus specimens (3.5%), all originating from two neighboring farms. Viral presence was confirmed by LCMV-specific qRT-PCR. Complete S and L genome segments were successfully obtained from one sample using a combination of RT-PCR and nanopore sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses placed the Italian strain within LCMV lineage I, clustering with strains previously detected in Europe. Host genetic analysis confirmed that infected mice belonged to the subspecies Mus musculus domesticus.IMPORTANCEThis study provides the first molecular evidence and complete genomic characterization of Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in Italy in its primary reservoir, Mus musculus. The identification of LCMV at the livestock-wildlife interface suggests a significant anthropozoonotic risk, particularly for farm workers. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for integrated molecular surveillance and increased clinical awareness to better define the public health impact of LCMV in Italy.

Animals

Delayed type-hypersensitivity response of inbred strains of Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to lethal or non-lethal lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections.

In adult Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), intraperitoneal or footpad inoculation of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strains, WE or Armstrong (ARM), caused systemic infection and induced serum LCMV-antibody. Hamster and virus strain-dependent lethal disease also occurred. With WE, MHA and PD4 inbred hamsters failed to eliminate infection and died of wasting disease. LSH and CB inbred hamsters resisted lethal WE-disease and cleared infection. LVG hamsters and inbred LHC hamsters were intermediate in WE-susceptibility; some died of wasting, while others survived with little illness. Resistance to lethal WE-disease directly correlated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to live-virus footpad inoculation. In WE-resistant LSH and CB hamsters, DTH-responses were induced by intraplantar WE-inoculation; footpad edema began by 5 days, reached maximum thickness by 7 to 9 days, and subsided thereafter. In the other hamster strains, DTH to WE could not be elicited. Unlike WE, ARM was hamster-avirulent; infections were self-limited and did not induce DTH. All survivors of primary LCMV (WE or ARM)-infection resisted secondary WE-challenge, and did not develop DTH to LCMV. Immunosuppressive treatments, abrogating DTH and antibody responses to LCMV, rendered all hamsters susceptible to lethal WE-infection. Hamster DTH most likely mediated resistance to virulent LCMV-infection.

Animals

Anti-viral protection and prevention of lymphocytic choriomeningitis or of the local footpad swelling reaction in mice by immunization with vaccinia-recombinant virus expressing LCMV-WE nucleoprotein or glycoprotein.

The viral antigen specificity of primary cytotoxic T cell responses (CTL) of H-2b, H-2k, H-2q, H-2s, H-2f and some H-2-recombinant mice against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-WE isolate) as well as the specificity of some CTL clones and T cell lines was defined on target cells infected with vaccinia-recombinant virus expressing nucleoprotein (Np) or glycoprotein (Gp). Np was recognized together with H-2q (Dq), H-2d (DLd), H-2s and H-2b (Db). Gp specificity was restricted to H-2f and H-2b (Kb and Db); H-2k-restricted CTL anti-LCMV responses were neither Gp nor Np specific. The anti-viral protective immunity induced by vaccinia-Gp or vaccinia-Np recombinants was evaluated in mice. In vivo protection was T cell mediated by class I restricted Ly-2+ T cells; it correlated well with the CTL specificity defined in vitro. Some of the CTL-nonresponder H-2 allele plus Np or H-2 plus Gp combinations were, however, protected to variable and low degrees by vaccinia-recombinant viruses, indicating that anti-viral protection is a more sensitive readout for CTL activity than the in vitro assay. For example, B10.D2 H-2d mice generated measurable CTL responses only to Np; after immunization with a vaccinia-Np recombinant, LCMV titers were 10(4) times lower in spleens than in vaccinia-primed controls. Although vaccinia-Gp-immunized BALB/c mice revealed no CTL activity in vitro, they nevertheless had 10(2) times lower LCMV titers in spleens than controls. Anti-viral protection, particularly in low-responder combinations, was usually short-lived and diminished after 3 weeks. In a high-responder situation, protection was of a longer duration (greater than 8 weeks). Vaccination with vaccinia-Np or Gp recombinants protected mice against lethal T cell-mediated lymphocytic choriomeningitis induced by LCMV or prevented the local footpad swelling reaction; these in vivo effects were H-2 dependent and followed the identical roles established for CTL recognition in vitro.

Animals

The course of LCMV infection in gnotobiotic and conventional adult mice pretreated with attenuated NDV vaccine.

A single intraperitoneal treatment with two different doses of live Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) containing attenuated NDV vaccine one day before intracerebral inoculation with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) had no influence on the ratio and time of deaths after infection with a 100 LD50 dose of LCMV either in gnotobiotic or in conventional mice. There was no difference either in the LD50 values determined on the basis of three parallel LCMV titration performed on mice pretreated with two different doses of vaccine or untreated. NDV vaccine pretreatment thus did not influence the cellular immune response to LCMV infection either in gnotobiotic or in conventional adult mice. As the NDV vaccine increased the cellular immune response to LCMV infection in suckling mice according to earlier results, the present results reinforce our earlier statement that the direction of immunomodulatory effects can be influenced by age.

Animals

LCMV-specific, class II-restricted cytotoxic T cells in beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice.

Intracranial infection of normal mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) causes meningitis and death mediated by CD8+ major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). beta 2-Microglobulin-deficient mice (beta 2M-/-) do not express functional MHC class I proteins and do not produce significant numbers of CD8+ T cells. When beta 2M-/- mice were infected with LCMV, many died from LCMV disease and produced a specific response to LCMV mediated by CD4+ CTLs that were class II-restricted. In these mice, CD4+ CTLs may compensate for the lack of CD8+ CTLs.

Animals

Effect of Mannozym on the course of LCMV infection in mice with undeveloped and normal immune system.

Adult germfree (Gf) mice with undeveloped immune system due to antigen deficient environment, conventional (Cv) mice with normal immune system and Cv suckling mice with undeveloped immune system due to age were treated intraperitoneally with Mannozym (M, 0.1% zymosan suspension) 4 days or 4 days and 1 day before the intracerebral inoculation with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). One dose of M was equal to 40 mg/kg of zymosan. In suckling mice, both applied doses of M contributed the development of fatal lymphocytic choriomeningitis after infection with 100 LD50 dose of LCMV, thus M pretreatment increased the cellular immune response to LCMV infection. M pretreatments had no influence on the course of LCMV infection either in adult Gf or in Cv mice. Spleen hypertrophy was caused by applied doses of M both in adult (Gf and Cv) and Cv suckling mice, but modulating effect on the cellular immune response manifested simultaneously only in Cv sucklings.

Aging

Evidence for polyclonal B cell activation as the mechanism for LCMV-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

A docile substrain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) causes a persistent infection in adult C3HeB mice and induces a severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) which is maximal around three weeks post infection (PI). Evaluations of serum immunoglobulin levels of these mice demonstrated grossly elevated IgG2a levels along with increased IgG1 and IgG2b levels, suggesting that these animals also develop polyclonal B cell activation (PBA). Interestingly, LCMV-infected B10.BR mice did not demonstrate a marked hypogammaglobulinemia nor did they experience a severe hemolytic anemia. Although evaluations of the hematocrits indicated that these animals endure a mild anemia 21 days PI, a below normal reticulocyte count until day 18 PI suggests that there was a prolonged suppression in hematopoiesis. It is clear from RBC survival studies that there is not an accelerated rate of RBC elimination, as seen in infected C3H mice, demonstrating that the anemia in B10.BR mice is not due to a hemolytic process. These results imply a correlation between the development of PBA and AIHA, suggesting a cause and effect relationship.

Agammaglobulinemia

The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens in the brain differs markedly in acute and persistent infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).

Intracranial inoculation of immunocompetent mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) induces a fatal neurologic illness. In this disease a marked increase in MHC class I expression was found, closely associated with viral antigens and inflammatory infiltrates, in meninges, choroid plexus and ventricular ependyma but not within the brain parenchyma. Immunosuppression prevented MHC induction. Mice inoculated at birth had persistent infections, with LCMV antigens found primarily in neurons, but no inflammatory cells or focal increase in MHC class I. Failure of infected neurons to express MHC class I allows them to escape destruction by cytotoxic T cells (CTL) but may increase their susceptibility to be persistently infected by non-lytic viruses.

Acute Disease

Novel LCMV-specific H-2k restricted CTL clones recognize internal viral gene products and cause CNS disease.

H-2k (C3H/Hej) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were cloned. Three clones recognizing internal viral antigens were studied. One such CTL clone recognized neither the glycoprotein nor nucleoprotein encoded by the viral short RNA segment, but reacted with a protein encoded by the long RNA segment, either the viral polymerase, or the Z protein. This one clone, in addition to primary CTL harvested from immunized C3H mice, failed to lyse target cells expressing the Z protein, suggesting recognition was to the viral polymerase. Two other clones recognized the viral nucleoprotein, amino acids 93-100, as determined by protein deletion and peptide mapping studies. When introduced directly into the central nervous systems of LCMV-infected histocompatible mice, all clones were active in vivo and capable of causing immunopathologically mediated death.

Animals

Evidence for immune-mediated destruction as mechanism for LCMV-induced anemia in persistently infected mice.

A docile substrain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) causes a persistent infection in adult C3HeB mice and induces a severe anemia, which, unlike the viremia, eventually resolves. Measurements of red blood cell (RBC) survival rates demonstrated an increased rate of RBC clearance in these animals, indicating a hemolytic process for the anemia. Normal clearance rates of RBCs from infected mice transfused into control mice suggested that there was not an intrinsic defect in these cells. It also appeared that RBC destruction was immune-mediated, as cyclophosphamide treatments prevented the onset of anemia in infected mice, whereas adoptive transfer (AT) of immune splenocytes into immunocompromised mice reestablished the condition. The AT experiments also demonstrated that the onset of anemia correlated with the functional state of the immune cells. In addition, opsonization of RBCs was demonstrated by macrophage phagocytosis, and the appearance of opsonized RBCs corresponded with the course of the anemia. These findings support a hypothesis of RBC opsonization and subsequent phagocytosis by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system as the mechanism for RBC destruction in LCMV-induced hemolytic anemia.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune

Effect of microbial immunomodulants on the course of LCMV infection in old mice with thymus involution.

Old mice with thymus involution were treated intraperitoneally with a live vaccine containing a mesogenic strain of attenuated Newcastle Disease Virus or with Mannozym (M, 1% zymosan suspension). One day after the treatments mice were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) intracerebrally. The fatal course of the consequent LCMV infection was stimulated by each of the pretreatments, indicating that the cellular immune response was stimulated. The results are compared with results of experiments carried out on suckling, young adult and old mice in similar experimental systems. The authors' previous publication suggesting that the direction and degree of the immunomodulant effect may be influenced by the actual age-dependent condition of the lymphoid system, have been confirmed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

The course of LCMV infection in euthymic and athymic mice pretreated with immunomodulatory agents.

Balb/c (euthymic) and nu/nu (athymic) mice were treated intraperitoneally with TP-4 (a synthetic tetrapeptide, thymopoietin sequence analog) or with Mannozym (1% zymosan suspension), and were infected intracerebrally with LCM virus. Both of the agents contributed to the development of fatal choriomeningitis, consequently stimulated the cellular immune response in euthymic mice, but the athymic mice either treated or not, survived the infection, consequently the agents had no effect on the course of LCM virus infection. Both agents exerted a thymus-dependent cellular immune response stimulating effect. That is, an immunostimulatory effect can be realized only in the presence of the thymus or the T-dependent lymphoid system.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

An acquired immune suppression in mice caused by infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

A murine model of virally induced acquired immunodeficiency was analyzed in mice. The effect of systemic infection with various isolates of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) on the capacity of mice to mount a T cell-independent IgM and a T cell-dependent IgG neutralizing antibody response against a subsequent infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was analyzed. DBA/2 mice infected with the LCMV-WE isolate were impaired in their IgM and IgG responses to VSV. Immune suppression was not caused by interferons inhibiting proper VSV antigen expression, since responses to inactivated VSV were also suppressed. The higher the dose of the LCMV and the lower the dose of the challenging VSV infection the more drastic was the apparent lack of immune responsiveness and the longer it lasted. Kinetics of induction of suppression of the T cell-independent IgM responses closely followed that of a normal cytotoxic T cell response to LCMV-WE, starting on day 6 and reaching maximal levels by day 8 to 10. The T cell-dependent IgG response to VSV was suppressed with a kinetics that was shifted by about 6 days when compared with suppression of IgM responses, i.e. LCMV infection on the same day or before (but not after) VSV infection led to suppression of IgG responses that are usually first detected by day 6-7 after initiation of the VSV infection. Severity and duration of immunosuppressiveness depended upon the LCMV isolate and the mouse strain used: LCMV-WE and LCMV-Docile were most, whereas LCMV-Armstrong was in general least immunosuppressive. Antibody responses to VSV-NJ seemed to be more subject to LCMV-induced immune suppression than VSV-IND-specific responses. Mouse strains differed considerably with respect to extent of suppression, dependent upon both major histocompatibility genes (MHC) and non-MHC genes. DBA and Swiss type mice were generally more susceptible than C57BL and CBA mice, and H-2q and H-2k seemed to be more susceptible than H-2b or H-2d mice. Mice infected with LCMV-WE showed signs of acquired immunodeficiency diseases since they were more susceptible to superinfection with VSV and developed paralytic disease and tended to die from VSV infection. Since LCMV is basically a noncytopathic virus, this murine model of virally induced immune suppression may serve to analyze immune pathogenesis of virus-induced acquired immunodeficiency.

Animals

Suppression of virus-specific antibody production by CD8+ class I-restricted antiviral cytotoxic T cells in vivo.

The question of whether virus-induced immunosuppression includes the antibody response against the infecting virus itself was evaluated in a model situation. Transgenic mice expressing the T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for peptide 32-42 of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein 1 presented by Db reacted with a strong transgenic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response starting on day 3 after infection with a high dose (10(6) PFU intravenously [i.v.]) of the WE strain of LCMV (LCMV-WE); LCMV-specific antibody production in the spleen was suppressed in these mice. Low-dose (10(2) PFU i.v.) infection resulted in an antiviral antibody response comparable to that of the transgene-negative littermates. The induction of suppression of LCMV-specific antibody responses was specifically mediated by CD8+ TCR transgenic CTLs, since the LCMV-8.7 variant virus (which is not recognized by transgenic TCR-expressing CTLs because of a point mutation) did not induce suppression. In addition, treatment with CD8 monoclonal antibody in vivo abrogated suppression. Once suppression had been established, it was found to be nonspecific. The abrogation of antibody responses depended on the relative kinetics of the antibody response involved and the kinetics of the anti-LCMV CTL response. Analysis of T- and B-cell subpopulations showed no significant changes, but immunohistochemical analysis of spleens revealed extensive destruction of follicular organization in lymphoid tissue by day 4 in transgenic mice infected with LCMV-WE but not in those infected with the CTL escape mutant LCMV-8.7. Impairment of antigen presentation rather than of T or B cells was also suggested by adoptive transfer experiments, showing that transferred infected macrophages may improve the anti-LCMV antibody response in LCMV-immunosuppressed transgenic recipients; also, T and B cells from suppressed transgenic mice did respond in irradiated and virus-infected nontransgenic mice with antibody formation to LCMV. Such virus-triggered, T-cell-mediated immunopathology causing the suppression of B cells and of protective antibody responses, including those against the infecting virus itself, may permit certain viruses to establish persistent infections.

Animals

Immunosuppression by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection: competent effector T and B cells but impaired antigen presentation.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) may cause a severe immunosuppression in mice. Its pathogenesis is apparently dependent on LCMV-specific CD8 effector T cells that mediate the destruction of virus-infected cells which are normally essentially involved in immune responses. Evaluation of various LCMV isolates in this study established a general correlation between their tropism for lymphohemopoietic cells and immunosuppression. When immune responses were assessed as the capacity of mice to mount an anti-vaccinia virus cytotoxic T cell response or an IgG response to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), after a primary LCMV infection, LCMV-Armstrong, WE, Clone 13 and Docile were increasingly immunosuppressive in a dose-dependent fashion with respect to both extent and duration. Analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations showed variable effects of the various LCMV isolates that did not reveal patterns readily explaining immunosuppression. To evaluate whether LCMV infection affected T and/or B cell functions directly or whether antigen presentation was impaired, adoptive transfer experiments were performed. Untreated or irradiated but uninfected normal recipient mice receiving adoptively transferred T or B cells from LCMV-WE or Docile-infected immunosuppressed donor mice responded within 30%-100% of normal ranges in both assay systems. In contrast, when T or B cells from normal donors were transferred to irradiated or non-irradiated LCMV-immunosuppressed recipients, they failed to mount a significant cytotoxic T cell response against vaccinia virus or an IgG response to VSV. Thus, the T and B cells from LCMV-immunosuppressed mice were able to function within normal ranges; in contrast, histologically and functionally, antigen presentation was severely impaired in LCMV-immunosuppressed mice.

Animals

Proteins of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: antigenic topography of the viral glycoproteins.

Topographical relationships among antigenic sites on the envelope glycoproteins of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were established using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed against viral GP-1 and GP-2. Purified MAb were radioiodinated and used as probes in a solid phase competitive binding assay. Epitopes on LCMV GP-1 were found to cluster in four antigenic sites. Five neutralizing MAb raised by immunization with the WE strain of LCMV reacted with a single topographic site, termed GP-1A, which was present on four strains of LCMV examined in this study. A second site, GP-1B, was characterized by two MAb which partially competed with one another and with a subset of neutralizing antibodies. This site appeared to be close to site A and was found to be nonneutralizing. The third site, GP-1C, contained sequential epitopes and was also nonneutralizing. Antibodies binding to site B enhanced the binding of MAb at site C, presumably through a conformational change. In addition to the common neutralizing site A, LCMV Armstrong strain (LCMV-Arm) GP-1 contained a second topographically related neutralizing site, GP-1D, which was specific for LCMV-Arm, absent in WE, and appeared to be the major immunogenic epitope on GP-1 of this virus. Analysis of MAb binding to LCMV GP-2 demonstrated the presence of three overlapping binding sites. GP-2A was defined by two antibodies while GP-2B and C represented binding sites of one antibody each. Guinea pigs primed with LCMV-Arm and challenged with LCMV-WE developed a significant immune response which was directed toward the common major neutralizing site, GP-1A, but had poor responses to the LCMV-Arm specific neutralizing site GP-1D. Immune sera contained antibody to site GP-1B but lacked detectable antibody to GP-1C.

Animals

Restricted V-segment usage in T-cell receptors from cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for a major epitope of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play an important role in recovery from a number of viral infections. They are also implicated in virus-induced immunopathology as best demonstrated in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of adult immunocompetent mice. In the present study, the structure of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in LCMV-specific CTL in C57BL/6 (B6) mice was investigated. Spleen T cells obtained from LCMV-infected mice were cultured in vitro with virus-infected stimulator cells and then stained with anti-TCR V beta antibodies. A skewing of V beta usage was noticeable in T cells enriched for their reactivity to LCMV, suggesting that particular V segments are important for the recognition of LCMV T-cell epitopes in B6 mice. To gain more detailed information on the structure of the TCR specific for LCMV epitopes, we studied CTL clones. It has been shown that approximately 90% of LCMV-reactive CTL clones generated in H-2b mice are specific for a short peptide fragment of the LCMV glycoprotein, residues 278 to 286, recognized in the context of the class I major histocompatibility complex molecule, Db. Four CTL clones possessing the specificity were randomly selected from a collection of clones, and their TCR genes were isolated by cDNA cloning or by the anchored polymerase chain reaction. All four clones were found to use V alpha gene segments belonging to the V alpha 4 subfamily. By RNA blot analysis, two more clones with the same specificity were also shown to express the V alpha 4 mRNA. In contrast, three different V beta gene segments were used among the four clones examined. J beta 2.1 was used by three of the clones. Although amino acid sequences in the V(D)J junctional regions were dissimilar, aspartic acid was found in the V alpha J alpha and/or V beta D beta J beta junctions of all four of these clones, suggesting that this residue is involved in binding the LCMV fragment. Restricted usage of V alpha and possibly J beta segments in the CTL response to a major T-cell epitope of LCMV raises the possibility that immunopathology in LCMV infection can be treated with antibodies directed against such TCR segments. Thus, similar analysis of the TCR in other virus infections is warranted and may lead to therapeutic strategies for immunopathology due to virus infections.

Amino Acid Sequence

Characterization of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-binding protein(s): a candidate cellular receptor for the virus.

The attachment of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) to murine and primate cell lines was quantitated by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter assay in which binding of biotinylated virus was detected with streptavidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate. Cell lines that were readily infected by LCMV (e.g., MC57, Rin, BHK, Vero, and HeLa) bound virus in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no significant binding was observed to lymphocytic cell lines (e.g., RMA and WIL 2) that were not readily infected. Binding was specific and competitively blocked by nonbiotinylated LCMV. It was also blocked by LCMV-specific antiserum and a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to the virus glycoprotein GP-1 but not by antibodies specific for GP-2, indicating that attachment was likely mediated by GP-1. Treatment of cells with any of several proteases abolished LCMV binding, whereas phospholipases including phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C had no effect, indicating that one or more membrane proteins were involved in virus attachment. These proteins were characterized with a virus overlay protein blot assay. Virus bound to protein(s) with a molecular mass of 120 to 140 kDa in membranes from cell lines permissive for LCMV but not from nonpermissive cell lines. Binding was specific, since unlabeled LCMV, but not the unrelated enveloped virus herpes simplex virus type 1, competed with 125I-labeled LCMV for binding to the 120- to 140-kDa band. The proteinaceous nature of the LCMV-binding substance was confirmed by the lack of virus binding to proteinase K-treated membrane components. By contrast, glycosidase treatment of membranes did not abolish virus binding. However, in membranes treated with endoglycosidase F/N-glycosidase F, and/or neuraminidase and in membranes from cells grown in tunicamycin, the molecular mass of the LCMV-binding entity was reduced. Hence, LCMV attachment to rodent fibroblastic cell lines is mediated by a glycoprotein(s) with a molecular mass of 120 to 140 kDa, with complex N-linked sugars that are not involved in virus binding.

Animals