| Research to be addressed in this thesis deals with the expression of foreign proteins using a cytomegalovirus vector. The first part of this dissertation describes the characterization and cloning of a virus homolog of a G-protein coupled receptor from a newly discovered Peromyscus maniculatus cytomegalovirus (PCMV). In addition, it describes the construction and characterization of a recombinant PCMV, containing an expression cassette which carries the Sin Nombre hantavirus glycoprotein G1 gene sequence fused in frame with the gene for Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP). The second part of the dissertation further characterizes an immune response in P. maniculatus (deer mice), infected with either wild type (wt) PCMV or a previously characterized recombinant PCMV. In addition, a Real Time Quantitative PCR technique has been developed to accurately monitor levels of PCMV infection in mouse organ tissues and cell culture. |
