Stable expression of Barmah Forest virus replicons in cultured mammalian cells

Abstract

Viruses are infectious agents that can infect various living organisms, including humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Understanding their molecular biology is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Alphaviruses are a group of mosquito-borne viruses that cause diseases such as rash, arthritis, and encephalitis. Barmah Forest virus (BFV) is an alphavirus that poses a public health threat in Australia. However, research on BFV is relatively limited compared to other alphaviruses. In this study, we focus on the expression of BFV replicons in cultured mammalian cells. Replicons are valuable tools for studying viral replication and developing antiviral agents. We review the successful generation of replicons for alphaviruses and Hepatitis C virus and propose a workflow for constructing BFV replicons in cultured mammalian cells.