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Running With Scissors: Evolutionary Conflicts Between Viral Proteases and the Host Immune System.
Brian V Tsu1, Elizabeth J Fay1, Katelyn T Nguyen1
1Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Immunology
|November 18, 2021
Summary
Viral proteases antagonize host immunity by cleaving viral polyproteins and host targets. Host immune evolution drives viral protease evolution, shaping host range and disease.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Pathogens utilize proteases to disrupt host immune responses.
- Positive-sense single-stranded RNA [(+)ssRNA] viruses encode proteases essential for replication and host manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary dynamics between viral proteases and host immune factors.
- To understand how viral protease-host interactions influence viral evolution and pathogenicity.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of viral protease sequences and cleavage sites.
- Examination of host gene evolution in response to viral pressure.
- Review of existing literature on viral protease-host interactions.
Main Results:
- Viral proteases face evolutionary constraints but engage in 'arms races' with host factors.
- Host gene evolution leads to cleavage avoidance or 'tripwire' immune activation.
- Viral protease and cleavage site divergence is driven by host-virus coevolution.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary conflicts between viral proteases and host factors shape viral diversity and pathogenicity.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting host range and zoonotic potential.
- An evolutionary perspective is vital for studying viral protease-host interactions.
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