Engineered Promoter-Switched Viruses Reveal the Role of Poxvirus Maturation Protein A26 as a Negative Regulator of Viral Spread.

ABSTRACT: Vaccinia virus produces two types of virions known as single-membraned intracellular mature virus (MV) and double-membraned extracellular enveloped virus (EV). EV production peaks earlier when initial MVs are further wrapped and secreted to spread infection within the host. However, late during infection, MVs accumulate intracellularly and become important for host-to-host transmission. The process that regulates this switch remains elusive and is thought to be influenced by host factors. Here, we examined the hypothesis that EV and MV production are regulated by the virus through expression of F13 and the MV-specific protein A26. By switching the promoters and altering the expression kinetics of F13 and A26, we demonstrate that A26 expression downregulates EV production and plaque size, t

SUBMITTER: Holley J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8428399 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature