Mapping loci influencing the persistence of Theiler's virus in the murine central nervous system

Abstract

Inbred strains of mice differ greatly in their susceptibility to the demyelinating disease caused by Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus. In this murine disease, which is an animal model for the study of multiple sclerosis, demyelination depends on the persistent infection of the central nervous system. Previous studies identified a locus in the H-2D region of the major histocompatibility complex which controls susceptibility to the persistent infection, and also showed that other loci are involved. In order to identify these loci, we screened the genome of a set of backcross animals with a combination of polymorphic microsatellites and restriction enzymes sites. We now show that viral persistence is also controlled by a locus close to Ifg on chromosome 10 and possibly by a locus near Mbp on chromosome 18.