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Home / Equine Research Bank / Viruses / The role of equine herpesvirus type 4 glycoprotein k in viru...
Viruses2012; 4(8); 1258-1263; doi: 10.3390/v4081258

The role of equine herpesvirus type 4 glycoprotein k in virus replication.

Abstract: Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) is an important equine pathogen that causes respiratory tract disease among horses worldwide. Glycoprotein K (gK) homologues have been identified in several alphaherpesviruses as a major player in virus entry, replication, and spread. In the present study, EHV-4 gK-deletion mutant has been generated by using bacterial artificial chromosome technology and Red mutagenesis to investigate the role of gK in EHV-4 replication. Our findings reported here show that gK is essential for virus replication in vitro and that the gK-negative strain was not able to be reconstituted in equine cells. It is noteworthy that these findings agree with the previously published study describing gK deletion in other alphaherpesviruses.
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Publication Date: 2012-08-07 PubMed ID: 23012623PubMed Central: PMC3446760DOI: 10.3390/v4081258Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers in this article explored how a protein called glycoprotein K (gK) influences the replication of Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) — a virus causing respiratory disease in horses. They found that gK is essential for the virus’s replication process.

Understanding Equine Herpesvirus 4 and Glycoprotein K

  • Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) is a pathogen that primarily affects horses, causing respiratory tract infections. It is commonly seen worldwide and can have significant impacts on horse health.
  • Glycoprotein K (gK) has been identified in several types of alphaherpesviruses – a subfamily of viruses that includes herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, and varicella-zoster virus. The protein is known to play crucial roles in virus entry, replication, and spread. Replication refers to the process by which viruses reproduce and increase in number within a host.

Research Methodology and Findings

  • The team generated a gK-deletion mutant form of EHV-4 to gauge the protein’s importance in virus replication. They accomplished this using bacterial artificial chromosome technology and Red mutagenesis.
  • Bacterial artificial chromosomes are DNA constructs, based on a functional fertility plasmid (or F-plasmid), used for transforming and cloning in bacteria. They let researchers sequence, modify, and annotate large fragments of DNA, which is essential when working with complex proteins like gK.
  • Red mutagenesis is a method of DNA engineering that facilitates the introduction of specific mutations into the genes of organisms, allowing researchers to observe how the mutation affects these genes’ functions.
  • Through their research, they found that gK is fundamental for EHV-4 virus’s replication in vitro (in a lab setting), noting that the gK-negative strain (the virus without the gK protein) couldn’t be reconstituted in equine cells.
  • These findings aligned with previously published studies which also described the pivotal role of gK in the replication of alphaherpesviruses.

Implications and Conclusions

  • Understanding the role of proteins such as gK in virus replication can help inform the development of treatments and preventive measures. If gK is indeed crucial for EHV-4 replication, then targeting this protein could potentially stunt the virus’s ability to reproduce and spread, providing a tangible way to control and manage the spread of the disease in horses.
  • While this study only explored the role of gK in EHV-4, the findings line up with existing research on other alphaherpesviruses — potentially suggesting a broader significance of gK’s role in virus replication across different types of viruses within this subfamily.

Cite This Article

APA
Azab W, El-Sheikh A. (2012). The role of equine herpesvirus type 4 glycoprotein k in virus replication. Viruses, 4(8), 1258-1263. https://doi.org/10.3390/v4081258

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 8
Pages: 1258-1263
PII: v4081258

Researcher Affiliations

Azab, Walid
  • Institute of Virology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, Haus 18, 10115 Berlin, Germany. wfazab@zedat.fu-berlin.de
El-Sheikh, Abuelyazeed

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Cell Line
    • Glycoproteins / genetics
    • Glycoproteins / metabolism
    • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
    • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
    • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics
    • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / physiology
    • Horse Diseases / virology
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Sequence Deletion
    • Viral Proteins / genetics
    • Viral Proteins / metabolism
    • Virus Replication

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 2 times.
    1. Oliver SL. The Structures and Functions of VZV Glycoproteins. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023;438:25-58.
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    2. Liu D, Zhao X, Wang X. The Genomic Characterization of Equid Alphaherpesviruses: Structure, Function, and Genetic Similarity. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 3;12(3).
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