New reporter gene-based replication assay reveals exchangeability of replication factors of porcine circovirus types 1 and 2

Two types of porcine circovirus (PCV), which differ in their pathogenicity, are known. PCV type 2 (PCV2) is the etiological agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in swine, while PCV1 has not yet been linked to a disease. Corroborating earlier observations in PCV1 transcript mapping revealed that the rep gene of PCV2 encodes two products, the full-length protein Rep and the spliced version Rep' and that the simultaneous expression of Rep and Rep' proteins is essential for initiation of replication of PCV2. The interchangeability of the replication factors of PCV1 and PCV2 was examined. The rep gene products of PCV2 were not only able to bind the PCV2 origin but also the origin of PCV1 and vice versa. To investigate the competence of the Rep/Rep' proteins to initiate replication at the heterologous origin, a new replication assay was developed. It measures the expression of a luc reporter gene present on a plasmid carrying the origin of the investigated replicon. Replication is initiated by expression of the appendant replicase from a second plasmid and results in replication of the origin plasmid coupled with an increase in the Luc activity. Using this method to compare replication of PCV1 and PCV2 in cell culture, it was shown that the Rep/Rep' protein of PCV2 initiated replication at the origin of PCV1, as did the reciprocal combination. Our results indicate that the cis- and trans-acting replication factors of the two viruses are functionally exchangeable.