RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Zimmer, Gert A1 Locher, Samira A1 Berger Rentsch, Marianne A1 Halbherr, Stefan J.YR 2014 T1 Pseudotyping of vesicular stomatitis virus with the envelope glycoproteins of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses JF Journal of General Virology, VO 95 IS 8 SP 1634 OP 1639 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.065201-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Pseudotype viruses are useful for studying the envelope proteins of harmful viruses. This work describes the pseudotyping of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with the envelope glycoproteins of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. VSV lacking the homotypic glycoprotein (G) gene (VSVΔG) was used to express haemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA) or the combination of both. Propagation-competent pseudotype viruses were only obtained when HA and NA were expressed from the same vector genome. Pseudotype viruses containing HA from different H5 clades were neutralized specifically by immune sera directed against the corresponding clade. Fast and sensitive reading of test results was achieved by vector-mediated expression of GFP. Pseudotype viruses expressing a mutant VSV matrix protein showed restricted spread in IFN-competent cells. This pseudotype system will facilitate the detection of neutralizing antibodies against virulent influenza viruses, circumventing the need for high-level biosafety containment., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.065201-0