The switch between acute and persistent paramyxovirus infection caused by single amino acid substitutions in the RNA polymerase P subunit.

ABSTRACT: Paramyxoviruses can establish persistent infections both in vitro and in vivo, some of which lead to chronic disease. However, little is known about the molecular events that contribute to the establishment of persistent infections by RNA viruses. Using parainfluenza virus type 5 (PIV5) as a model we show that phosphorylation of the P protein, which is a key component of the viral RNA polymerase complex, determines whether or not viral transcription and replication becomes repressed at late times after infection. If the virus becomes repressed, persistence is established, but if not, the infected cells die. We found that single amino acid changes at various positions within the P protein switched the infection phenotype from lytic to persistent. Lytic variants replicated to higher titres i

SUBMITTER: Young DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6386407 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature