Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA
Published on: October 11, 2013
Toscana virus induces interferon although its NSs protein reveals antagonistic activity
Gianni Gori Savellini1, Friedemann Weber, Chiara Terrosi
1Department of Molecular Biology, Microbiology Section, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Abstract:
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-β), although its non-structural protein (NSs) could inhibit the induction of IFN-β if expressed in a heterologous context. A recombinant Rift Valley fever virus expressing the TOSV NSs could suppress IFN-β expression in infected cells. Moreover, in cells expressing NSs protein from a cDNA plasmid, IFN-β 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.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

