B6.FVB-Tg(CD46)2Gsv/J

Stock number: 004971
Product name: MY II
Research areas: Research Tools, Virology Research

Description

These MY II mice express a transgene coding for the human CD46 protein (MCP) and are susceptible to measles virus infection.

Detailed description

These mice carry the YAC-CD46 transgene coding for the human CD46 protein (also known as MCP), which serves as the receptor for the human measles virus, group B adenoviruses, the human herpes simplex VI virus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The expression of this transgene is under the direction of the human CD46 promoter. Transgene expression is detected by in situ hybridization examination of whole animal sections, by Northern blot analysis of brain, spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, kidney, liver, gut and lung, and by FACS analysis of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ lymphocytes. Levels of transgenic protein on cell surfaces are similar to levels found in human cells. This line carries 10 to 12 copies of the transgene. Transgenic mice are susceptible to measles virus (MV) infection, expressing MV antigens and releasing infectious viral particles. The spread of the virus throughout the nervous system and the suppression of the immune system mimic the course of MV infection in humans. Transgenic mice infected with MV exhibit reduced numbers of macrophages, neutrophils and IFN-gamma producing T-cells, and are more susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes bacteria infection.
Mice that are homozygous for this transgene are viable and fertile. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in the study of pathogenesis and treatment of microbial infections by the various viruses that are able to utilize CD46/MCP as a receptor.

Development

The YAC-CD46 transgene (containing a full-length human CD46 gene (also called MCP)) was injected into FVB/N pronuclei. Founder animals (line 2) were bred to C57BL/6 mice. The strain has been backcrossed for 12 generations on the C57BL/6 background (October 2003).

Allele

Symbol: Tg(CD46)2Gsv
Name: transgene insertion 2, Frank Grosveld
MGI accession ID: MGI:3688752
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Inserted expressed sequence; Humanized sequence
Marker symbol: Tg(CD46)2Gsv
Marker name: transgene insertion 2, Frank Grosveld
Chromosome: 9
Strain of origin: FVB/N
Expressed genes: CD46,CD46 molecule,human
Molecular note: The transgene comprises a partially intact, approximately 420-kb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF, London, UK), designatied AM2: 6C10, that contains the complete human CD46/MCP gene including its 5' and 3' flanking regions. The genome of transgenic mice of line MY II contains 10-12 intact copies of CD46. The expected 4.5 - 4.8-kb transcript, as well as several smaller RNAs, are expressed at high levels in all tissues examined from transgenic mice. Immunohistochemistry likewise detects patterns of expression of human CD46 protein in transgenic mouse tissues similar to those in human tissues. FACS analysis detects CD46 on transgenic spleen cells at approximately 10-fold higher levels than on human splenocytes.