Using Reverse Genetics to Manipulate the NSs Gene of the Rift
Valley Fever Virus MP-12 Strain to Improve Vaccine Safety and
Efficacy The reverse genetics system for the Rift Valley fever
virus MP-12 vaccine strain is a useful tool for creating
additional MP-12 mutants with increased attenuation and
immunogenicity. We describe the protocol to generate and
characterize NSs mutant strains. We describe a method to process
and screen field-collected mosquitoes for a diversity of viruses
by Vero cell culture assay. By employing this technique, we have
detected 9 different viruses from 4 taxonomic families in
mosquitoes collected in Connecticut. 1Respiratory Infection
Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, 2Royal Liverpool
and Broadgreen, University Hospital Trust, 3Comprehensive Local
Research Network, 4NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Microbial
Diseases, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals
NHS Trust, 5Institute of Lung Health, Respiratory Biomedical
Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester