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Interferon independence of genetically controlled resistance to flaviviruses
Abstract:
Flavivirus-resistant C3H/RV mice injected with sheep anti-interferon globulin and then infected with either West Nile or yellow fever virus survived and displayed no disease symptoms. Also, treatment of embryo fibroblast cultures prepared from C3H/RV or congenic susceptible C3H/HE mice with anti-interferon serum resulted in an increased yield of West Nile virus from both types of cultures, but the amount of infectious virus produced by resistant cultures remained 1 to 1.5 logs lower than that produced by susceptible cell cultures. These results indicate that the mode of expression of the flavivirus resistance gene differs significantly from that of the Mx gene conferring resistance to influenza virus-induced disease in A2G mice.
Insights
Flavivirus resistance in mice involves interferon, but its mechanism differs from influenza resistance genes. This study shows anti-interferon treatment impacts flavivirus yield in resistant cells.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Flaviviruses, including West Nile virus and yellow fever virus, pose significant public health threats.
- Interferon plays a crucial role in antiviral defense, but its precise role in flavivirus resistance is not fully understood.
- The Mx gene confers resistance to influenza viruses, but its role in flavivirus resistance is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of interferon in flavivirus resistance in C3H/RV mice.
- To compare the mechanism of flavivirus resistance with that of influenza resistance conferred by the Mx gene.
Main Methods:
- C3H/RV mice, a flavivirus-resistant strain, were injected with sheep anti-interferon globulin and infected with West Nile or yellow fever virus.
- Embryo fibroblast cultures from resistant (C3H/RV) and susceptible (C3H/HE) mice were treated with anti-interferon serum.
- West Nile virus yield was measured in treated and untreated cell cultures.
Main Results:
- Mice treated with anti-interferon globulin survived flavivirus infection without symptoms, indicating interferon's protective role.
- Anti-interferon serum treatment increased West Nile virus yield in both resistant and susceptible cell cultures.
- However, resistant cell cultures consistently produced 1 to 1.5 logs less infectious virus than susceptible cultures.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that interferon is involved in flavivirus resistance in C3H/RV mice.
- The mechanism of flavivirus resistance differs from that of Mx gene-mediated resistance to influenza virus.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific pathways involved in flavivirus resistance.