Construction of infectious feline foamy virus genomes: cat antisera do not cross-neutralize feline foamy virus chimera with serotype-specific Env sequences.

Full-length genomes of the feline foamy virus (FFV or FeFV) isolate FUV were constructed. DNA clone pFeFV-7 stably directed the expression of infectious FFV progeny virus indistinguishable from wild-type, uncloned FFV isolate FUV. The env and bel 1 genes of pFeFV-7 were substituted for by corresponding sequences of the FFV serotype 951 since previous studies implicated a defined part of FFV Env protein as responsible for serotype-specific differences in serum neutralization (I. G. Winkler, R. M. Flügel, M. Löchelt, and R. L. P. Flower, 1998. Virology 247: 144-151). Recombinant virus derived from chimeric plasmid pFeFV-7/951 containing the hybrid env gene and the parental clone pFeFV-7 were used for neutralization studies. By means of a rapid titration assay for FFV infectivity, we show that progeny virus derived from plasmid pFeFV-7 was neutralized by FUV- but not by 951-specific antisera, whereas pFeFV-7/951-derived chimeric virus was neutralized by 951-specific antisera only. Both recombinant proviruses will be useful for repeated delivery of foreign genes for therapeutic gene applications into cats. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.