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. 1988 Mar;85(5):1667–1671. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.5.1667

Expression of the firefly luciferase gene in vaccinia virus: a highly sensitive gene marker to follow virus dissemination in tissues of infected animals.

J F Rodriguez 1, D Rodriguez 1, J R Rodriguez 1, E B McGowan 1, M Esteban 1
PMCID: PMC279835  PMID: 3422754

Abstract

We have introduced the firefly luciferase gene of Photinus pyralis into the vaccinia virus genome. This gene is expressed in a coordinate fashion during virus infection. Luminescence produced by the action of luciferase [Photinus-luciferin:oxygen 4-oxidoreductase(decarboxylating, ATP-hydrolyzing), EC 1.13.12.7] was easily detectable in infected cells in culture as well as in cells of tissues of infected mice. The limits of detection were about one infected cell in a background of a million noninfected cells. The luciferase assay was about 1000-fold more sensitive than that of beta-galactosidase. Our findings show that the luciferase assay can be conveniently used to follow viral gene expression and virus dissemination both in cell cultures and in tissues of infected animals.

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