Cryptic proteins translated from deletion-containing viral genomes dramatically expand the influenza virus proteome.

ABSTRACT: Productive infections by RNA viruses require faithful replication of the entire genome. Yet many RNA viruses also produce deletion-containing viral genomes (DelVGs), aberrant replication products with large internal deletions. DelVGs interfere with the replication of wild-type virus and their presence in patients is associated with better clinical outcomes. The DelVG RNA itself is hypothesized to confer this interfering activity. DelVGs antagonize replication by out-competing the full-length genome and triggering innate immune responses. Here, we identify an additionally inhibitory mechanism mediated by a new class of viral proteins encoded by DelVGs. We identified hundreds of cryptic viral proteins translated from DelVGs. These DelVG-encoded proteins (DPRs) include canonical viral protein

SUBMITTER: Ranum JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11014358 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature