RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Wang, Hong-Jiang A1 Liu, Long A1 Li, Xiao-Feng A1 Ye, Qing A1 Deng, Yong-Qiang A1 Qin, E-De A1 Qin, Cheng-FengYR 2016 T1 In vitro and in vivo characterization of chimeric duck Tembusu virus based on Japanese encephalitis live vaccine strain SA14-14-2 JF Journal of General Virology, VO 97 IS 7 SP 1551 OP 1556 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000486 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), a newly identified flavivirus, has rapidly spread to China, Malaysia and Thailand. The potential threats to public health have been well-highlighted; however its virulence and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, by using reverse genetics, a recombinant chimeric DTMUV based on Japanese encephalitis live vaccine strain SA14-14-2 was obtained by substituting the corresponding prM and E genes (named ChinDTMUV). In vitro characterization demonstrated that ChinDTMUV replicated efficiently in mammalian cells with small-plaque phenotype in comparison with its parental viruses. Mouse tests showed ChinDTMUV exhibited avirulent phenotype in terms of neuroinvasiveness, while it retained neurovirulence from its parental virus DTMUV. Furthermore, immunization with ChinDTMUV was evidenced to elicit robust IgG and neutralizing antibody responses in mice. Overall, we successfully developed a viable chimeric DTMUV, and these results provide a useful platform for further investigation of the pathogenesis of DTMUV and development of a live attenuated DTMUV vaccine candidate., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/jgv.0.000486