Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ), also known as Sendai virus, is a type of non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. It was originally isolated in Japan from the respiratory tract of mice.
HVJ is characterized by its ability to cause hemagglutination, which is the clumping together of red blood cells. This characteristic is attributed to the presence of a surface glycoprotein called hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) on the viral envelope. The HN protein allows the virus to bind to receptors on the surface of host cells, facilitating viral entry and subsequent infection.
In addition to its hemagglutinating activity, HVJ exhibits fusogenic properties, meaning it is capable of fusing the host cell membrane with its own viral envelope. This fusion event allows the virus to enter the host cell cytoplasm and initiate replication.
HVJ has been extensively used as a tool in molecular biology research due to its ability to efficiently deliver nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, into a wide range of mammalian cell types. This property, known as HVJ-mediated cell fusion or HVJ-mediated gene transfection, has been harnessed as a technique in biotechnology to introduce foreign genetic material into cells for various purposes, including the production of recombinant proteins, gene therapy, and functional genomics studies.
In summary, Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ) is a hemagglutinating, fusogenic virus that has found utility in biotechnological applications as a vehicle for gene delivery into mammalian cells.
