Related Experiment Videos
Variola virus immune evasion proteins.
Lance R Dunlop1, Katherine A Oehlberg, Jeremy J Reid
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 220 John Morgan Building, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Microbes and Infection
|August 28, 2003
Summary
Variola virus, the smallpox agent, has two characterized proteins, SPICE and CKBP-II, that regulate the host immune system. Understanding these viral proteins aids in developing treatments for smallpox and immune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Variola virus, the smallpox pathogen, encodes ~200 proteins, with over 80 in terminal genome regions linked to immune evasion.
- Only two variola virus proteins, SPICE and CKBP-II, have been characterized to date, both exhibiting immunoregulatory functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functions of characterized variola virus proteins, SPICE and CKBP-II.
- To explore the potential of these proteins as targets for smallpox therapies and treatments for immune-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of variola virus proteins (SPICE, CKBP-II) with known viral and mammalian proteins (VCP, complement regulatory proteins, CC-chemokine receptors).
- Examination of protein homology and conservation across orthopoxviruses and eukaryotes.
Main Results:
- SPICE is homologous to vaccinia virus complement-control protein (VCP) and functions similarly to mammalian complement regulatory proteins.
- CKBP-II binds CC-chemokine receptors and is highly conserved among orthopoxviruses but absent in eukaryotes, distinguishing it from other virulence factors.
- Both SPICE and CKBP-II are located in terminal genome regions and possess immunoregulatory functions.
Conclusions:
- Characterized variola virus proteins SPICE and CKBP-II play roles in immune evasion and regulation.
- Further study of variola virus proteins can elucidate smallpox virulence and pathogenesis.
- These viral proteins may offer therapeutic targets for smallpox and human immune-related diseases.