Murine leukemia virus recombinants that use phosphate transporters for cell entry induce similar spongiform encephalomyelopathies in newborn mice

Amphotropic Moloney-murine leukemia virus recombinants (Mo-AmphoV) induce a severe spongiform encephalomyelopathy in newborn mice. We show here that a coisogenic recombinant with a 10A1-MuLV host range (Mo-10A1V) also induces a neurodegenerative disease, clinically characterized by mild tremor and a taxia. Spongiform lesions are most severe in the metencephalon and mesencep halon but extend into the prosencephalon and spinal cord. significantly the quality of histopathology was indistinguishable between Mo-AmphoV and Mo-1 0A1V, probably reflecting a final common pathogenic pathway. Common recepto r use thus may be an important determinant in the pathogenicity of these vi ruses. These results have implications for the clinical use of retroviral p seudotypes that use phosphate transporters for cell entry. (C) 1998 Academi c Press.