Investigation of the impact of the common animal facility contaminant murine norovirus on experimental murine cytomegalovirus infection

Virology. 2009 Sep 30;392(2):153-61. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.05.035. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

Murine norovirus (MNV) is a recently discovered pathogen that has become a common contaminant of specific pathogen-free mouse colonies. MNV-1 induces a robust interferon-beta response and causes histopathology in some mouse strains, suggesting that it may impact other mouse models of infection. Despite many concerns about MNV-1 contamination, there is little information about its impact on immune responses to other infections. This study addresses whether MNV-1 infection has an effect on a model of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. Exposure to MNV-1 resulted in a decreased CD8 T cell response to immunodominant MCMV epitopes in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. However, MNV-1 did not impact MCMV titers in either mouse strain, nor did it stimulate reactivation of latent MCMV. These data suggest that while MNV-1 has a mild impact on the immune response to MCMV, it is not likely to affect most experimental outcomes in immunocompetent mice in the MCMV model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • BALB 3T3 Cells
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / veterinary
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / virology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Housing, Animal
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muromegalovirus / immunology*
  • Norovirus / immunology*
  • Rodent Diseases / immunology*
  • Rodent Diseases / virology
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Viral Plaque Assay
  • Virus Activation