VATIS UPDATE Article

Scientists at the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases at Osaka University, Japan, have reported a new plasmid-based reverse genetics system, to identify which genes are crucial for the infection of rotaviruses. “Reverse genetics allows us to generate artificially engineered viruses. Using reverse genetics, we can mutate a gene and see its effects on the virus”, said lead researcher Takeshi Kobayashi.

Reverse genetics systems have been developed for a wide number of viruses to study the conditions in which a virus thrives, but systems for multiple-segmented RNA-based viruses like rotaviruses have proven more difficult. Kobayashi’s group solved this problem by including two viral proteins, FAST and VV capping enzyme, into their plasmid-based system. Taking advantage, the researchers tested their system by mutating a single protein of rotaviruses, NSP1, finding that they could decrease viral replication.

Through comprehensive testing of all proteins in future studies, researchers expect to find the key determinants that make rotaviruses a severe pubic threat. “We could modify the propagation and pathogenicity of the rotavirus”, said Kobayashi. Researchers are optimistic about how plasmid-based reverse genetics system will bring new innovations to combat rotaviruses. The system will increase the number of labs working on rotaviruses and lead to more effective vaccines.