FIG. 1.

Schematic display of wild-type VSV and 10 variants. The VSV genome consists of a single RNA strand encoding five genes. The top displays a schematic of the VSV wild-type genome and a color-matched illustration of the virus structure. The next genome shows a recombinant variant, VSV-G/GFP, in which an additional copy of the G gene is inserted, tagged to a GFP reporter gene. VSV-dG-GFP has the whole gene order shifted through insertion of the GFP reporter gene at the first position and has the complete sequence for the G protein deleted. VSV-CT9 has a truncated G protein, shortening the 27-amino-acid chain of the cytoplasmic G protein tail down to 9 amino acids; the GFP reporter gene is inserted between the G and L genes. VSV-CT1 has the G gene truncated to a single amino acid in its cytoplasmic tail. VSV-M51 has a methionine deletion at position 51 of the M protein, leading to more susceptibility of the virus to the interferon-mediated antiviral defense; the GFP reporter gene is inserted between the G and L genes. VSV-CT9-M51 combines the mutation of M51 with the CT9 mutation. VSV-p1-GFP has a wild-type-related genome that is completely shifted by the insertion of the GFP reporter gene at position 1 of the gene order, leading to decreased viral transcription of downstream genes. VSV-rp30 is based on recombinant VSV-G/GFP, with one mutation each in the P and L proteins, leading to enhanced infection and oncolysis.