Role of pseudotyped viruses in understanding epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunity of viral diseases affecting both horses and humans.

Overview

• This paper reviews how pseudotyped viruses (PVs) assist in studying viruses that infect both horses and humans, focusing on their use in understanding viral entry, disease mechanisms, immune responses, and antiviral testing.

Introduction to Pseudotyped Viruses

• Pseudotyped viruses are engineered viruses with a core from one virus and the surface proteins from another.
• They carry a reporter gene, such as luciferase, which allows researchers to easily detect and quantify virus entry into cells.
• These viruses are non-replicative, meaning they cannot reproduce, offering a safer way to study viral entry without handling fully infectious viruses.

Applications in Epidemiology

• PVs enable measurement of how effectively viruses bind and enter host cells, allowing insights into transmissibility and receptor usage.
• Because PVs can mimic multiple viral envelope proteins, they can be used to compare different viral strains or species and their potential to infect horses and humans.
• This contributes to understanding cross-species transmission risks and the epidemiological spread of zoonotic viruses.

Contributions to Understanding Pathogenesis

• By focusing on the entry phase of infection, PVs help elucidate the mechanisms viruses use to invade host cells.
• This knowledge can highlight critical steps in viral lifecycle that might be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
• PVs allow study of viral envelope proteins’ role in disease development without full viral replication, reducing biosafety risks.

Role in Immunity and Neutralisation Testing

• The reporter gene in PVs facilitates sensitive detection of neutralising antibodies against viral envelope proteins.
• Neutralisation tests with PVs can evaluate vaccine efficacy or immune responses in infected or vaccinated horses and humans.
• PVs offer a standardized and safe platform for serological studies across multiple virus types affecting both species.

Utility for Antiviral Testing

• PVs can be employed to screen candidate antiviral compounds for their ability to block viral entry.
• This approach accelerates identification of potential drugs without requiring high-containment facilities needed for live virus cultures.
• The presence of a measurable reporter gene allows rapid quantitative assessment of antiviral efficacy.

Summary

• Pseudotyped viruses are valuable tools bridging study of viruses shared between horses and humans.
• They improve safety, facilitate detailed study of viral entry and immune response, and enhance antiviral discovery efforts.
• This review highlights their growing importance in veterinary and human virology research.