Apoptosis Inversely Correlates with Rabies Virus Neurotropism

: We report that non‐neurotropic rabies virus (RV) strains, currently used to immunize wildlife against rabies, induces not only a caspase‐dependent apoptosis in the human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T cell line (Jurkat‐vect), but also a caspase‐independent pathway. Cell redistribution of the apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF) was observed in Jurkat‐vect infected with RV vaccine strain. Bcl‐2 overproduction in Jurkat T cells (Jurkat‐Bcl‐2) abolished both caspase activation and AIF distribution. In contrast, strain of neurotropic RV did not induce apoptosis. The inverse correlation of the induction of apoptosis and the capacity of a virus strain to invade the brain suggests that blockage of apoptosis could be a strategy selected by neurotropic virus to favor its progression through the nervous system.