Antiviral Protection via RdRP-Mediated Stable Activation of Innate Immunity.

ABSTRACT: For many emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, definitive solutions via sterilizing adaptive immunity may require years or decades to develop, if they are even possible. The innate immune system offers alternative mechanisms that do not require antigen-specific recognition or a priori knowledge of the causative agent. However, it is unclear whether effective stable innate immune system activation can be achieved without triggering harmful autoimmunity or other chronic inflammatory sequelae. Here, we show that transgenic expression of a picornavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), in the absence of other viral proteins, can profoundly reconfigure mammalian innate antiviral immunity by exposing the normally membrane-sequestered RdRP activity to sustained innate immune detection.

SUBMITTER: Painter MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4669089 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature