Rotavirus capping enzyme VP3 inhibits interferon expression by inducing MAVS degradation during viral replication

Rotavirus is an enteric RNA virus that causes severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in infants and young children through infection of enterocytes in the small intestine. Timely clearance of the virus demands a robust innate immune response by cells associated with the small intestine, including the expression of interferon (IFN). Previous studies have shown that some rotavirus strains suppress the production of interferon, by inducing the degradation of mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein and interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF3). In this study, we have used reverse genetics to generate recombinant rotaviruses expressing compromised forms of VP3 or NSP1, or both, to explore the function of these viral proteins in the degradation of MAVS and IRF3. Our results demonstrate that VP3 is responsible for MAVS depletion in rotavirus-infected cells, and through this activity, helps to suppress IFN production. Thus, VP3 functions to support the activity of rotavirus NSP1, the major interferon antagonist of the virus.