Feline and canine coronaviruses are released from the basolateral side of polarized epithelial LLC-PK1 cells expressing the recombinant feline aminopeptidase-N cDNA

In this study feline (FECV and FIPV) and canine (CCoV) coronavirus entry in to and release from polarized porcine epithelial LLC-PK1 cells, stably expr essing the recombinant feline aminopeptidase-N cDNA, were investigated. Vir us entry appeared to occur preferentially through the apical membrane, simi lar to the entry of the related porcine coronavirus transmissible gastroent eritis virus (TGEV) into these cells. However, whereas TGEV is released api cally, feline and canine coronaviruses were found to be released from the b asolateral side of the epithelial cells. These observations indicate that l ocal infections as caused by TGEV, FECV and CCoV do not strictly correlate with apical release, as suggested by earlier work.