Duck plague virus UL41 protein inhibits RIG-I/MDA5-mediated duck IFN- β production via mRNA degradation activity

In this study, we first found that the DPV UL41 protein inhibited duck interferon- β (IFN-β) production mediated by RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) by broadly downregulating the mRNA levels of important adaptor molecules, such as RIG-I, MDA5, mitochondrial antiviral signalling protein (MAVS), stimulator of interferon gene (STING), TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 7. The conserved sites of the UL41 protein, E229, D231, and D232, were responsible for this activity. Furthermore, the DPV CHv-BAC-ΔUL41 mutant virus induced more duck IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes (Mx, OASL) production in duck embryo fibroblasts ( DEFs) than DPV CHv-BAC parent virus. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying DPV immune evasion.
Source: Veterinary Research - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research