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PMID: 3422754 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Expression of the firefly luciferase gene in vaccinia virus: a highly sensitive gene marker to follow virus dissemination in tissues of infected animals.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America ·Vol. 85 ·No. 5 ·1988-03-00 ·Pages 1667-71

Rodriguez JF, Rodriguez D, Rodriguez JR, McGowan EB, Esteban M

Abstract

We have introduced the firefly luciferase gene of Photinus pyralis into the vaccinia virus genome. This gene is expressed in a coordinate fashion during virus infection. Luminescence produced by the action of luciferase [Photinus-luciferin:oxygen 4-oxidoreductase(decarboxylating, ATP-hydrolyzing), EC 1.13.12.7] was easily detectable in infected cells in culture as well as in cells of tissues of infected mice. The limits of detection were about one infected cell in a background of a million noninfected cells. The luciferase assay was about 1000-fold more sensitive than that of beta-galactosidase. Our findings show that the luciferase assay can be conveniently used to follow viral gene expression and virus dissemination both in cell cultures and in tissues of infected animals.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Line Gene Expression Regulation Luciferases/genetics Mice Molecular Biology/methods Vaccinia virus/genetics Virus Replication
Chemicals
Luciferases
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Rodriguez J F
Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn 11203.
Rodriguez D
Rodriguez J R
McGowan E B
Esteban M
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18 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbr.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN
0027-8424
DOI
10.1073/pnas.85.5.1667
Published
1988-03-00
Pages
1667-71
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7505876
PMCID
PMC279835
Subset
IM
Grants
NCI NIH HHS · CA 44262 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1073/pnas.85.5.1667 PMC Full Text View journal details
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