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Identifying Caspases and their Motifs that Cleave Proteins During Influenza A Virus Infection
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Viral hijacking of host caspases: an emerging category of pathogen-host interactions

Patrick F Connolly1, Howard O Fearnhead1

  • 1Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.

Cell Death and Differentiation
|May 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Viruses can hijack host cell caspases, enzymes involved in programmed cell death, to aid their own replication. This surprising viral strategy reveals new roles for caspases beyond apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Viruses and hosts co-evolve, with viruses often manipulating host cell processes.
  • Viruses typically suppress host apoptosis to ensure survival.
  • A novel viral strategy involves utilizing host caspases for viral proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence of viruses co-opting host caspases.
  • To discuss the origins of this viral-host interaction.
  • To explore implications for viral pathogenesis and programmed cell death.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on viral-host interactions and caspases.
  • Analysis of viral protein cleavage by caspases.
  • Discussion of non-apoptotic roles of caspases in viral replication.

Main Results:

  • Some viruses utilize host caspases to cleave viral proteins.
  • Cleavage products gain novel activities that enhance viral replication.
  • This represents a new class of viral-host interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Viruses can exploit apoptotic machinery for non-apoptotic functions.
  • Caspases have newly identified roles in viral replication.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for viral pathogenesis research.

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