Molecular cloning of the complete genome of strain GDVII of Theiler's virus and production of infectious transcripts.

We constructed a complete cDNA clone of strain GDVII of Theiler's virus in Bluescript plasmid. This recombinant plasmid, called pTMGDVII, was used to synthesize full-length RNA transcripts of the viral insert. This RNA was infectious for BHK cells. Virus R1-GDVII, obtained from transfected BHK cells, caused rapidly fatal encephalomyelitis in BALB/c mice. High amounts of viral antigens were present in neurons. No antigens were found in white matter. Therefore, the phenotype of R1-GDVII was indistinguishable from that of genuine GDVII Theiler's virus.