Dobson, BiancaProcter, Dean JHollett, Natasha AFlesch, Inge E. ANewsome, Timothy PTscharke, David C2015-03-052015-03-050042-6822http://hdl.handle.net/1885/12820Vaccinia virus (VACV) gene F5L was recently identified as a determinant of plaque morphology that is truncated in Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). Here we show that F5L also affects plaque morphology of the virulent VACV strain Western Reserve (WR) in some, but not all cell lines, and not via previously described mechanisms. Further, despite a reduction in plaque size for VACV WR lacking F5L there was no evidence of reduced virus replication or spread in vitro or in vivo. In vivo we examined two mouse models, each with more than one dose and measured signs of disease and virus burden. These data provide an initial characterization of VACV F5L in a virulent strain of VACV. Further they show the necessity of testing plaque phenotypes in more than one cell type and provide an example of a VACV gene required for normal plaque morphology but not replication and spread.This work was funded by the Australian NHMRC: #418108 and APP1023141 (DCT) and Australian ARC: FT110100310 (DCT) and DP1096623 (TPN).© 2014 Elsevier Inc.https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/open-access-licenses/elsevier-user-licenseCell migrationCytopathic effectModified vaccinia virus AnkaraPlaque morphologyVaccinia virusAnimalsCell LineDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGene DeletionMiceMice, Inbred BALB CVacciniaViral Plaque AssayViral ProteinsVirulenceVirus Replication2014-04-0510.1016/j.virol.2014.03.0202015-12-08