ABSTRACT
Pseudotyped viruses are engineered viruses that bear the outer surface protein(s) of one virus but the inner core of another. The inner core comprises of a genome which encodes a reporter gene. Pseudotyped viruses have been widely used for targeted gene delivery, the study of cell-entry pathways, and the determination of cell receptors and viral tropism. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of viral pseudotypes to study and track emerging and reemerging virus infections. Pseudotyping allows researchers to produce a virus with the outer envelope protein(s) or capsid proteins of a high-risk viral pathogen on a replication-deficient inner core. Such pseudotypes provide a biosafe way to study the interaction of a pathogen’s envelope protein(s) with the host cell. They are also being used increasingly to sensitively detect neutralising and non-neutralising antibody responses directed against the envelope protein(s). This chapter will focus on the technology of construction of viral pseudotypes and their use in neutralisation (reporter) assays for sensitive detection of antibody responses against the envelope/capsid proteins. It will also explore the potential application of pseudotypes as vaccines and antigen standards for emerging and transboundary viruses.
