Projects per year
Abstract
Antagonism of the interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral state is critical to infection by rabies virus (RABV) and other viruses, and involves interference in the IFN induction and signaling pathways in infected cells, as well as deactivation of the antiviral state in cells previously activated by IFN. The latter is required for viral spread in the host, but the precise mechanisms involved and roles in RABV pathogenesis are poorly defined. Here, we examined the capacity of attenuated and pathogenic strains of RABV that differ only in the IFN-antagonist P protein to overcome an established antiviral state. Importantly, P protein selectively targets IFN-activated phosphorylated STAT1 (pY-STAT1), providing a molecular tool to elucidate specific roles of pY-STAT1. We find that the extended antiviral state is dependent on a low level of pY-STAT1 that appears to persist at a steady state through ongoing phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles, following an initial IFN-induced peak. P protein of pathogenic RABV binds and progressively accumulates pY-STAT1 in inactive cytoplasmic complexes, enabling recovery of efficient viral replication over time. Thus, P protein-pYSTAT1 interaction contributes to ‘disarming’ of the antiviral state. P protein of the attenuated RABV is defective in this respect, such that replication remains suppressed over extended periods in cells pre-activated by IFN. These data provide new insights into the nature of the antiviral state, indicating key roles for residual pY-STAT1 signaling. They also elucidate mechanisms of viral deactivation of antiviral responses, including specialized functions of P protein in selective targeting and accumulation of pY-STAT1.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e1010533 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | PLoS Pathogens |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2022 |
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Uncovering mechanisms of protein multifunctionality
Gooley, P. R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Moseley, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Arthanari, H. (Partner Investigator (PI))
2/07/21 → 1/07/24
Project: Research
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Viral hijacking of the nucleolar DNA-damage response machinery: novel mechanisms to regulate host cell biology
Moseley, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Stewart, C. R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/19 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Defining the Molecular Mechanisms of Lyssavirus Replication and Immune Evasion: the P protein Axis
Moseley, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Gooley, P. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williams, S. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Bourhy, H. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/04/17 → 31/08/21
Project: Research
Equipment
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Monash Micro Imaging
Firth, S. (Manager), Fulcher, A. (Operator), Chernyavskiy, O. (Operator), Rzeszutek, M. (Other), Potter, D. (Manager), Hilsenstein, V. (Operator), Nunez-Iglesias, J. (Other), Cody, S. (Manager), Carmichael, I. (Operator), Kouskousis, B. (Other), Creed, S. (Manager) & Ballerin, G. (Operator)
Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences Research PlatformsFacility/equipment: Facility