Generation of reovirus core-like particles in cells infected with hybrid vaccinia viruses that express genome segments L1, L2, L3, and S2.

When mouse L fibroblasts are infected with various combinations of recombinant vaccinia viruses possessing thymidine kinase (TK) genes with inserted reovirus genes that encode core components, particles are formed that closely resemble reovirus cores. In cells infected with vaccinia viruses that express reovirus proteins lambda 1 and sigma 2, particles are formed that are very similar to reovirus core shells; if, in addition, the cells are also infected with vaccinia virus that expresses protein lambda 2, particles are formed that also possess the characteristic icosahedrally located projections/spikes that are present on reovirus cores. If, in either case, the cells are also infected with vaccinia virus that expresses the reovirus RNA polymerase, protein lambda 3, the resultant particles are morphologically identical with those formed in its absence, but also contain protein lambda 3.