Publikation

Toscana virus induces interferon although its NSs protein reveals antagonistic activity

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 22.09.2010

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Gori Savellini G, Weber F, Terrosi C, Habjan M, Martorelli B, Cusi M. Toscana virus induces interferon although its NSs protein reveals antagonistic activity. J Gen Virol 2010; 92:71-9.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
J Gen Virol 2010; 92
Veröffentlichungsdatum
22.09.2010
eISSN (Online)
1465-2099
Seiten
71-9
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

Toscana virus (TOSV) is a phlebotomus-transmitted virus that belongs to the family Bunyaviridae and causes widespread infections in humans; about 30 % of these cases result in aseptic meningitis. In the present study, it was shown that TOSV is an inducer of beta interferon (IFN-?), although its non-structural protein (NSs) could inhibit the induction of IFN-? if expressed in a heterologous context. A recombinant Rift Valley fever virus expressing the TOSV NSs could suppress IFN-? expression in infected cells. Moreover, in cells expressing NSs protein from a cDNA plasmid, IFN-? transcripts were not inducible by poly(I : C). Unlike other members of the family Bunyaviridae, TOSV appears to express an NSs protein that is a weak antagonist of IFN induction. Characterization of the interaction of TOSV with the IFN system will help our understanding of virus-host cell interactions and may explain why the pathogenesis of this disease is mostly mild in humans.