Infection of macrophage primary cultures by persistent and nonpersistent strains of Theiler's virus: role of capsid and noncapsid viral determinants.

ABSTRACT

We compared the infection of bone marrow macrophages by the DA and GDVII strains of Theiler's virus and by two viruses constructed by exchanging the DA and GDVII capsids. The replication of the GDVII strain and of both chimeric viruses was restricted in macrophages. Therefore, the infection of macrophages requires both capsid and noncapsid viral determinants.