July 27, 2023
The NSs protein of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus differentially inhibits the type 1 interferon response among animal species
A group led by Assistant Professor Rokusuke Yoshikawa of the National Research Center for the Control Prevention of Infectious Diseases/Institute of Tropical Medicine, Dr. Masahiro Kawakami (a student at Nagasaki University School of Medicine at that time), and Professor Jiro Yasuda has published a paper on severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus in the electronic edition of the "Journal of Biological Chemistry" on June 11, 2023.
■Research Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which has been reported in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan, is a causative agent of severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome. This virus has a high mortality and induces thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia in humans, cats, and aged ferrets, whereas immunocompetent adult mice infected with SFTSV never show symptoms. Anti-SFTSV antibodies have been detected in several animals—including goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs. However, there are no reports of severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome in these animals. Previous studies have reported that the nonstructural protein NSs of SFTSV inhibits the type I interferon (IFN-I) response through the sequestration of human signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins. In this study, comparative analysis of the function of NSs as IFN antagonists in human, cat, dog, ferret, mouse, and pig cells revealed a correlation between pathogenicity of SFTSV and the function of NSs in each animal. Furthermore, we found that the inhibition of IFN-I signaling and phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2 by NSs depended on the binding ability of NSs to STAT1 and STAT2. Our results imply that the function of NSs in antagonizing STAT2 determines the species-specific pathogenicity of SFTSV.
■Journal Information
Journal: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Title: The NSs protein of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus differentially inhibits the type 1 interferon response among animal species.
Author information: Yoshikawa R, Kawakami M, Yasuda J.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104819
