The 5' Untranslated Region of the Capsid Protein 2 Gene of Mink Enteritis Virus Is Essential for Its Expression.

Mink enteritis virus (MEV), as a parvovirus, is among the smallest of the animal DNA viruses. The limited genome leads to multifunctional sequences and complex gene expression regulation. Here, we show that the expression of viral capsid protein 2 (VP2) of MEV requires its 5' untranslated regions (5' UTR) which promote VP2 gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels.

Generation of an infectious clone of AMDV and identification of capsid residues essential for infectivity in cell culture.

Pathogenic strains of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) such as Utah-1 do not replicate in cell culture (e.g., Crandell Rees feline kidney cells) while the in vitro-adapted AMDV strain ADV-Gorham (ADV-G) is not pathogenic.