Dengue virus core protein affects induction of interferon beta in HEK293 cells

Tuesday, October 09, 2012 — Poster Session I
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NIAID	VIROL-2

* FARE Award Winner

Authors

• C.A. Balinsky
• H. Schmeisser
• K.C. Zoon

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito born flavivirus that can result in severe disease in humans. The DENV genome encodes seven nonstructural and three structural proteins. The DENV Core (C) protein functions as a structural component of the DENV virion, but may also have other functions. In order to better elucidate mechanisms underlying DENV evasion of the innate immune response, we examined the effect of DENV C on the induction of an antiviral state in cultured cells. Here, we report that the DENV C protein is able to reduce induction of interferon-β in HEK293 cells. Cells expressing the DENV C protein showed decreased levels of interferon-β and decreased antiviral activity when compared to mock transfected controls. Mutations were introduced into the DENV-C gene using site directed mutagenesis. DENV C with mutations at the N-terminus showed decreased ability to influence induction of interferon-β when compared to wild-type counterparts. Interaction partners for DENV-C were identified by Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) followed by mass spectrometry (MS). MS identified a number of host interaction partners. Knockdown experiments demonstrated a role of NF45 in antiviral activity. These data indicate that DENV C protein plays a role in viral evasion of the innate immune response.

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