Host factor MxA restricts Dabie bandavirus infection by targeting the viral NP protein to inhibit NP-RdRp interaction and ribonucleoprotein activity.

ABSTRACT: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high case mortality rates, which is caused by Dabie bandavirus (DBV), a novel pathogen also termed as SFTS virus (SFTSV). Currently, no specific therapeutic drugs or vaccines are available for SFTS. Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) has been shown to inhibit multiple viral pathogens; however, the role of MxA in DBV infection is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that DBV stimulates MxA expression which, in turn, restricts DBV infection. Mechanistic target analysis revealed that MxA specifically interacts with the viral nucleocapsid protein (NP) in a manner independent of RNA. Minigenome reporter assay showed that in agreement with its targeting of NP, MxA inhibits DBV ribonucleoprotein (RNP) activity.

SUBMITTER: Chang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10805036 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature